Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 54-year-old James Spratz of Lancaster pleaded guilty before Amherst Town Court Judge Kara Buscaglia to one count of Disorderly Conduct, a violation.

Between June 17, 2016 and September 30, 2017, the defendant, while working as a State University of New York at Buffalo Project Manager with the Facilities Planning and Design Department, defrauded his employer by reporting he was working at his full-time university job when he was not. During some of those occasions, Spratz was being paid by private outside firms that do architectural design and construction management work not related to his position at UB.

In total, the defendant was paid $15,622.30 in fraudulently obtained wage payments for time he was not on the job.

Spratz was sentenced today to a conditional discharged. He paid full restitution, resigned from his position, and agreed not to pursue any future employment at University at Buffalo. As part of his plea, he waived his right to appeal and the sealing of the case file.

DA Flynn commends the New York State Inspector General’s Office for their work in the investigation, University at Buffalo for their assistance, and the New York State Police for their assistance with the arrest of the defendant.

The case was prosecuted by Kelley A. Omel of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit.