(WNY News Now) – A trusted parish volunteer admits to pocketing more than $10,000 in cash offerings, leaving the community stunned.
Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that Francis R. Winiarski, 67, of Buffalo has pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a Class “D” felony, for stealing a substantial amount of cash donations from the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Winiarski, a long-time volunteer at the parish located on Amherst Street in Buffalo’s Black Rock neighborhood, admitted to tampering with collection bags to steal money intended for the church.
The theft occurred between August 1, 2023, and March 3, 2024, while Winiarski was volunteering. As part of his plea agreement, he signed a Confession of Judgment, agreeing to pay $10,699 in restitution to the church. Despite the seriousness of the charge, Winiarski remains free on his own recognizance, as the offense is non-qualifying for bail under current laws.
He is set to be sentenced on December 19, 2024, and faces up to seven years in prison. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office credited the work of Confidential Criminal Investigators Natalie Perez and Robert Bebak for their role in uncovering the theft. Chief Gary M. Ertel of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau is prosecuting the case.
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