(WNY News Now) – A former Deputy Clerk has been sentenced to prison for stealing more than $320,000 in cash payments from the Erie County Clerk’s Office, marking the resolution of a years-long embezzlement case.
Buffalo resident Alexander J. McDougall, 55, was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison by Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. McDougall, a former Deputy Clerk in the Registrar’s Division of the Erie County Clerk’s Office, admitted to stealing $320,159.33 in cash payments over a four-year period.
The thefts occurred between April 2019 and June 2023. McDougall altered cashier reports and submitted fraudulent bank deposit tickets to hide his actions. Investigators discovered that he used the stolen funds to cover personal expenses, including rent.
The case came to light in 2023 following an audit by the Erie County Comptroller’s Office. McDougall was suspended in September 2023 and subsequently terminated. The investigation revealed he failed to report the stolen funds as income on his tax returns, leading to an additional finding of $11,847 owed in state income taxes.
McDougall pleaded guilty to charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony) and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree (Class “E” felony) on August 9, 2024. As part of his plea agreement, he signed confessions of judgment to repay Erie County and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance in full.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended the Erie County Comptroller’s Office, New York State Comptroller’s Office, and Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in uncovering the crime. He also recognized the Erie County Clerk’s Office for its cooperation during the investigation.
“For more than four years, this defendant used his position in the Clerk’s Office to steal a significant sum of money from the residents of Erie County. In addition to uncovering this brazen theft, I want to commend the Erie County Comptroller’s Office as well as our partners in the New York State Comptroller’s Office and Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work on the case. I also commend the Erie County Clerk’s Office for their full cooperation in this investigation. While uncovering financial crimes can be an extensive and time-consuming process, I want the public to know that we are committed to obtaining justice and restoring their trust in government by prosecuting the offenders and seeking full restitution,” said Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Gary M. Ertel of the Public Integrity Unit, which focuses on rooting out government corruption.
Residents are encouraged to report suspected public corruption through the Erie County District Attorney’s online Public Integrity Complaint Form or by calling 716-858-2424.
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