New York State Parks Engineer Pleads Guilty to Official Misconduct

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 52-year-old Daniel Blamowski of Orchard Park pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens to one count of Official Misconduct (Class "A" misdemeanor).

Between December 2020 and July 2021, the defendant, while working as an engineer for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, fraudulently obtained state wages by submitting time sheets for hours of work performed while also engaging in unapproved outside employment with an out-of-state private contractor.

"Together, we will continue to prosecute any public employee who steals from the taxpayers of New York. In addition to pleading guilty today, this defendant must pay back the wages he was paid by York State Parks while also working for another employer. I want to thank the Offices of the New York State Inspector General and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for their work in this investigation. I encourage anyone with information on suspected time theft or other corruption within our state agencies to contact my office's Public Integrity Unit or the Inspector General's Office," said Acting District Attorney Mike Keane.

"For one hundred years, the public servants who comprise what is now New York State's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation have led the nation in safeguarding and preserving our state's precious natural assets for all to enjoy," said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. "Integrity in the allocation of resources is crucial to maintaining and providing access to the 360,000 acres of our state's parks, trails, beaches, historic sites, and campgrounds. My office and the dedicated staff of OPRHP are committed to these principles and to identifying those who would undermine them."

"OPRHP is committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity," said Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. "I commend staff who brought this to the attention of authorities. We are grateful to the Inspector General's Office and the Erie County District Attorney's Office for their thorough investigation and prosecution of this matter."

Blamowskifaces a maximum of one year in jail when he is sentenced on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance. As a condition of the plea, Blamowski agreed to pay $4,111.51 in restitution to the State of New York.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan A. Emmerling of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau and Chief Gary M. Ertel of the Public Integrity Unit.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unitwas established to crackdown on corruption in all levels of government and help restore the public's trust in our elected officials. The Unit is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of cases that involve crimes committed by public employees, elected officials, candidates for public office, members of law enforcement and other public servants. To aid in these efforts, the District Attorney's Office encourages the public to report any suspected violations through the Public Integrity Complaint Form.