Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A fired Erie County Deputy Clerk has been charged for stealing $216,000 in cash payments from the Erie County Clerk's Office.
55-year-old Alexander J. McDougall of Buffalo was arraigned Friday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Phillip Dabney, Jr. on a felony complaint charging him with one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony).
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn says between 2021 and June 2023, McDougall stole more than $50,000 in cash, then altered cashier reports, submitting fraudulent bank deposit tickets. Flynn adds McDougall started working in his capacity as a deputy clerk in the registrar's office in 2019.
"This defendant is accused of using his position in the Clerk’s Office to steal money from the residents of Erie County," said Flynn on Friday. "While uncovering financial crimes tends to be an extensive and time-consuming process, I want the public to know that I am committed to obtaining justice and restoring their trust in government."
Flynn estimates the total amount stolen is $216,412.72. Investigators are still in the process of looking back at records in 2019 and 2020. If they find anymore wrongdoings by McDougall in this investigation of the two years in question, Flynn says they can add on more charges within the next six months before the original evidence would be presented to a Grand Jury.
From the investigation, Flynn says McDougall was not found to be a gambler or using the money to live a lavish lifestyle. From what was ascertained during the investigation, McDougall was using the money for the daily living expenses to care for his special needs daughter, as well as his disabled wife.
"I obviously have compassion and sympathy, I think everyone knows that," Flynn said. "Obviously, it's not good to steal money from the government. Obviously, this is embarrassing to the county, to Mickey and to everyone. But things happen to people in life, and I do have compassion. I'm going to prosecute him. I arrested him, I'm going to indict him - or my successor is - he's gonna get prosecuted, but I want to make it clear that we don't have some kind of hardened criminal here, who was using the money for a lavish lifestyle."
Despite that circumstance, Erie County Sheriff John Garcia strongly believes those like McDougall, who had a role in county government, need to be held accountable for any wrongdoings.
"The public needs to know this: This is not a reflection upon the great public workers that we have in the County of Erie. And this is not a reflection upon the great work that our County Clerk Michael 'Mickey' Kearns and his people are doing day-in and day-out," said Garcia on Friday. "There are millions and millions of dollars, as the district attorney said, going through the Clerk's Office, and one bad apple has been removed. And the public could rest assure that there's no other person involved."
Flynn says his office became involved in the investigation last summer following an audit by the Erie County Comptroller’s Office. McDougall was suspended in mid-September 2023 then subsequently fired from his position.
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Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns issued the following statement:
"The investigation, requested by the Erie County Comptroller and this office, has led to the arrest of a former Erie County employee. I would like to thank the Offices of the Erie County Sheriff, Erie County District Attorney, and the New York State Comptroller for their assistance in this investigation, as well as the Erie County Comptroller’s Office for their partnership throughout the process.
"I have zero tolerance for the misuse or theft of public dollars and for violating the public’s trust in Erie County. When a public employee seemingly abuses their position in such an irresponsible way, they don’t just steal money, they are robbing the confidence that taxpayers have in their County government. I and the entire Erie County Clerk’s Office condemn any and all such misconduct. Upon learning of these allegations, we took immediate steps to review and cease longstanding policies and procedures, dating back decades.
"New, action-oriented policies and tighter control systems for improved oversight have already been established and implemented. We have also hired a new Finance Deputy who is a Certified Public Accountant and has an extensive background in forensic auditing. In closing, I want to thank my entire staff for their professionalism and continued hard work throughout this difficult process. From the onset, my staff has worked tirelessly with the Erie County Comptroller’s Office, and all law enforcement entities involved, all while serving the residents of Erie County each and every day, and they are to be commended."
McDougall is scheduled to return on Monday, April 15 at 9:30 a.m. ET for a felony hearing. He was released on his own recognizance as the charge as the charge does not qualify for bail.
If convicted of the charge, McDougall faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
