Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 53-year-old Antoinette Laney of Kenmore was sentenced yesterday morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to 5 years of probation.

After claiming that she was unable to perform work as a bus driver while employed by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), the defendant fraudulently obtained $30,212.69 in pay between September 2018 and February 2020 through workers’ compensation benefits by misrepresenting the nature and extent of her injuries. The defendant initially claimed that she was unable to work due to a right knee injury, but later amended the claim to a lower back and left knee injury. The investigation also revealed that the defendant performed work through Instacart and Ebay while continuing to collect money through workers’ compensation.  

Laney pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony) on September 26, 2022. She signed a Confession of Judgment to pay full restitution to the NFTA.

“I want the residents of Erie County to know that lying to collect workers’ compensation or other labor-related benefits is a crime and you will be required to pay back any illegally obtained funds. Thank you to the Inspector General’s Office for their work in this investigation,” said Erie County DA John Flynn.

DA Flynn commends the New York State Inspector General’s Office for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robin J. Deubler of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Unit.