Former Lancaster Highway Superintendent Sentenced

February 18, 2010 - BUFFALO, NY—Richard Reese, 57, of Lancaster, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to a two-year probation term and a fine of $1,000, United States Attorney Kathleen M. Mehltretter announced. Sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Campana said Reese pled guilty last September 21 to a felony charge of making a false statement to two FBI agents on April 1, 2009, when the agents interviewed him as part of an FBI investigation into the diversion of public funds for personal use. Reese was then the Town of Lancaster Highway Superintendent. He resigned as Superintendent on September 21, the same day he entered his guilty plea. In addition to admitting to making a false statement, Reese acknowledged in his plea agreement that he diverted Town of Lancaster funds for his personal use. When FBI agents interviewed Reese last April, he made a false statement to them about the purchase of a 36-inch by 20-foot section of storm run-off pipe he had purchased with Town funds. Reese also admitted that, while he served as the Town's highway superintendent, he sold scrap metal belonging to the Town of Lancaster and did not return the money he received from the sales back to the Town. Reese admitted that these diversions of cash amounted to at least $2,900. Reese has made the $2,900 restitution to the Town of Lancaster.

Reese was charged in a complaint last April for assaulting the two FBI agents who had just finished interviewing him. That complaint has been dismissed at the government's request on account of today's conviction.

The conviction was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent In-Charge James H. Robertson.