Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Francis R. Winiarski, 68, of Buffalo, was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to 364 days in jail.
On or about August 1, 2023, and March 3, 2024, the defendant stole a sum of money from Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Amherst Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendant, while volunteering at the parish, pocketed cash given by parishioners during the offering by tampering with the collection bags.
Winiarski pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony), the highest sustainable charge, on October 3, 2024. As a condition of the plea, the defendant signed a Confession of Judgment to pay $10,699 in restitution to the victim. To date, the defendant has not paid back any of the stolen money.
Winiarski was also sentenced in a separate criminal case. On February 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony), the highest sustainable charge, for another financial crime he committed while pending sentence for thefts from the church. Between November 2, 2024, and November 24, 2024, the defendant fraudulently obtained approximately $1,942.35 by making unauthorized transactions on a friend’s credit card. Today, Winiarski received a concurrent sentence of 364 days in jail.
DA Keane commends ECDA Confidential Criminal Investigators Natalie Perez and Robert Bebak for their work in these investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Gary M. Ertel of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.
