Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 30-year-old Danielle K. Bush of the Town of Orchard Park was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging her with one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony).

The defendant is accused of stealing lotto tickets while employed as a server at a restaurant in the Town of Hamburg between June 2, 2019 and February 8, 2020. Over the course of eight months, the defendant allegedly took gaming tickets and placed fraudulent bets while processing other bets placed by customers for a number of games of chance, including Quick Draw, Mega Millions and Power Ball. Her alleged actions resulted in an estimated total loss of approximately $50,000.00 to the restaurant.

The alleged theft was discovered after the owner of the restaurant conducted an internal audit of monthly billing statements from the New York State Lotto in February 2020. The statements revealed abnormally high gaming activity, unusual betting amounts and unique betting patterns, all of which allegedly corresponded with the defendant’s work schedule.

Bush is scheduled to return on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. She was released on her own recognizance as the charge is non-qualifying for bail.

If convicted of the charge, Bush faces a maximum of seven years in prison.

DA Flynn commends retired Sgt. Scott Kashino and Det. Howard Widman of the Town of Hamburg Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Jurusik from the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.