(WNY News Now) – A Lancaster woman admitted in court to embezzling more than $1.8 million from her employer over a seven-year period.
ERIE COUNTY, NY — July 23, 2025 — Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced that Bonnie Bova, 54, of Lancaster, pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing more than $1.8 million from a medical practice in Amherst, where she worked as a bookkeeper.
Bova pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to one count of Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a Class B felony, and one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E felony. These are the highest sustainable charges in the case.
Between September 2017 and October 2024, Bova issued checks from the medical practice to herself, disguising the theft by altering computer records to make it appear that the payments were made to legitimate vendors. The stolen funds, totaling $1,830,779.56, were used to pay her credit card bills and other personal expenses.
Her scheme was uncovered in October 2024 after a fellow employee spotted an irregularity with a check, triggering an internal audit that exposed the embezzlement. She was immediately terminated from her position.
In addition to the theft charges, Bova admitted to failing to report the stolen money on her personal income tax returns between 2019 and 2023.
As part of the plea agreement, Bova signed a Confession of Judgment to repay the full amount stolen. Her defense attorney submitted a $600,000 restitution check during court proceedings. She also agreed to pay $97,561 to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
Bova faces up to 25 years in state prison when she is sentenced on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Although the prosecution requested that she be remanded, Bova was released on her own recognizance.
“This case is the highest theft amount prosecuted by this office in recent years. The defendant funneled money from her employer into her own bank account, stealing more than $1.8 million dollars to fund her out of control spending habits. In addition to paying back a portion of restitution, I am pleased to announce that she pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge, which carries a mandatory state prison sentence,” said Erie County DA Mike Keane.
The case was investigated by Detective Bret Seifert of the Amherst Police Department and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brian P. Dassero and Jonathan Abrams of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.
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