(WBEN) The Erie County district attorney’s office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the closure of the Seneca Babcock Community Center.
Last month, the organization shut down because of financial issues, including former executive director Cheektowaga Councilman Brian Pilarski’s failure to file required IRS paperwork and documents dating back to 2017.
Legislature Chair Tim Meyers said, “During Thursday’s meeting of the Legislature’s Finance & Management Committee meeting, a representative from the Department of Social Services disclosed that documentation submitted by the Seneca-Babcock Community Association in order to obtain payment for programming, falsely claimed that the organization maintained its tax-exempt status with the IRS.
“I am grateful that the Erie County District Attorney has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Seneca-Babcock Community Association. The facts must be established fully and independently, and the District Attorney's office is the appropriate authority to do that work.”
"The Legislature will have no further comment on the specifics of the investigation while it is active. We have full confidence in the District Attorney's office, and we will await its conclusions."
A spokesman for the Erie County district attorney’s office said, “We cannot comment on pending investigations.”
