Former Treasurer Pleads Guilty for Stealing $272,000+ from Church

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that LaChria Bowden, 55, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class C non-violent felony) and one count of Repeated Failure to File Personal Income and Earnings Taxes (Class E felony under New York State Tax Law).The defendant entered a guilty plea to the highest sustainable charges.

Between November 13, 2017, and September 24, 2024, the defendant, while working as an assistant to the treasurer of a church on Buffalo's East Side, stole approximately $272,205 from the religious organization. Over the course of nearly seven years, the defendant wrote checks to herself for various sums. The preauthorized checks were intended to be used for church expenses. In September 2024, church leadership became aware of the missing money after a check made to a vendor was rejected due to insufficient funds. The defendant, who used the stolen money to pay for living and other personal expenses, was subsequently removed from her position.

Bowden also pleaded guilty for failing to file her personal income and earnings, with the intent to evade payment, for more than three consecutive taxable years. The defendant did not file personal income taxes with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance between 2017 and 2024.

As a condition of the plea, Bowden signed a Confession of Judgment to pay full restitution to the organization. She also signed a Confession of Judgment to pay $8,950 in restitution to the Department of Taxation and Finance.

Bowden is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The maximum sentence on the highest count is up to 15 years in prison. At the request of the complainant, Judge Wojtaszek made a sentencing commitment of 5 years of probation. She was released on her own recognizance pending sentence.

DA Keane commends ECDA Confidential Criminal Investigator Natalie Perez and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Abrams of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.