Depew woman sentenced to the minimum after stealing over $719k from employer

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Depew woman will spend the minimum amount of time behind bars after stealing more than $719k from a Buffalo business over the course of seven years, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced.

59-year-old Camille Pirrone-Hess stole $719,122.41 between July 8, 2016 and Aug. 7, 2023 while working as an office manager at Lancaster Tanks and Steel Products. On Monday, she was sentenced to just 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. The minimum term of incarceration for the crime was 1 to 3 years in prison.

“Today, my office supported the victims and asked the court to impose the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for this outrageous crime," said Acting Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane. "This defendant stole over $700,000 from these victims, causing them lifechanging financial harm, and ultimately the sale of their business. Unfortunately, the court imposed a sentence close to the minimum term of incarceration."

Using the company credit card, Pirrone-Hess made more than 2,000 unauthorized purchases on items such as event tickets, vacations, her child's college tuition, utility bills, donations to charity, furniture, jewelry and electronics.

Back in May, News 4 spoke to John and June Brennan, the family who owned the business she stole from. They said while Pirrone-Hess was paying for her children's tuition on their credit card, they had to take out loans for their own children's schooling. While she was going out to fancy restaurants, John brought bagged lunches to work. She spent their money on a cabana at a high-end Las Vegas resort, a helicopter tour while on a vacation paid for by the Brennan's, and even a wood-burning stove for her boyfriend's house.

“We saw her every day and she was aware of the difficulties of running a small manufacturing business in WNY, yet it didn’t seem to concern her in the least,” John Brennan said back in May. “We’re taking out loans and struggling to make payroll, and yet, she’s living a life of luxury.”

She pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny, the highest sustainable charge, on May 13. As a condition of the plea, she agreed to pay full restitution to the victims in the amount of $719,122.41. She has not paid back any of the money yet as of Monday.