Superintendent of Highways for the Town of Marilla

[MarkLV]

TWO PLEAD GUILTY TO THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

BUFFALO, N.Y.--David Pierce, 55, of Marilla, New York and Ronald Wells, 60, of Springville, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Richard J. Arcara, to felony charges of theft of government money, U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today. Theft of governmental property carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin J. Littlefield, who handled the case, stated that David Pierce, the former Superintendent of Highways for the Town of Marilla fraudulently stole money and services from the Town of Marilla in his official capacity as Superintendent of Highways. Mr. Littlefield stated that Mr. Pierce concocted several schemes, including the use of town employees to build a large pond on property he owns in the Town of Marilla . In addition, Ronald Wells owns a business which supplied goods to the Town of Marilla. Pierce and Wells engaged in a fraudulent scheme whereby Wells would supply phony invoices for goods supposedly delivered to the Marilla Department of Highways which Pierce then authorized for payment. Once paid, Wells would split the proceeds with Pierce. The amount of such fraudulent billing totaled approximately $16,000 over a five-year period. In addition, Pierce's misuse of Marilla property, town employees and/or town services, totaled approximately $4,700 over a five-year period.

Mr. Littlefield noted that both defendants have agreed to make full restitution for the losses to the Town of Marilla, $20,700 by David Pierce and $16,000 by Ronald Wells. In addition, Pierce has agreed to forfeit $7,000 to the United States, the added value to the property on which the pond was built by town employees.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett.

Sentencing of David Pierce is scheduled for July 23, 2008, at 12:30 p.m EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Richard J. Arcara.

Sentencing of Ronald Wells is scheduled for July 24, 2008, at 12:30 p.m EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Richard J. Arcara.

[Cgoodsp466]

TWO PLEAD GUILTY TO THEFT OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

BUFFALO, N.Y.--David Pierce, 55, of Marilla, New York and Ronald Wells, 60, of Springville, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Richard J. Arcara, to felony charges of theft of government money, U.S. Attorney Terrance P. Flynn of the Western District of New York announced today. Theft of governmental property carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin J. Littlefield, who handled the case, stated that David Pierce, the former Superintendent of Highways for the Town of Marilla fraudulently stole money and services from the Town of Marilla in his official capacity as Superintendent of Highways. Mr. Littlefield stated that Mr. Pierce concocted several schemes, including the use of town employees to build a large pond on property he owns in the Town of Marilla . In addition, Ronald Wells owns a business which supplied goods to the Town of Marilla. Pierce and Wells engaged in a fraudulent scheme whereby Wells would supply phony invoices for goods supposedly delivered to the Marilla Department of Highways which Pierce then authorized for payment. Once paid, Wells would split the proceeds with Pierce. The amount of such fraudulent billing totaled approximately $16,000 over a five-year period. In addition, Pierce's misuse of Marilla property, town employees and/or town services, totaled approximately $4,700 over a five-year period.

Mr. Littlefield noted that both defendants have agreed to make full restitution for the losses to the Town of Marilla, $20,700 by David Pierce and $16,000 by Ronald Wells. In addition, Pierce has agreed to forfeit $7,000 to the United States, the added value to the property on which the pond was built by town employees.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Laurie Bennett.

Sentencing of David Pierce is scheduled for July 23, 2008, at 12:30 p.m EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Richard J. Arcara.

Sentencing of Ronald Wells is scheduled for July 24, 2008, at 12:30 p.m EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of U.S. District Court Chief Judge, Richard J. Arcara.

God I love it when the bad guys get it. Who has the last laugh,we do.

[Henry Hill]

God I love it when the bad guys get it. Who has the last laugh,we do.

Buffalo news just reported Pierce killed himself today.

[FisherRd]

Buffalo news just reported Pierce killed himself today.

But was he laughing?

[Cgoodsp466]

Buffalo news just reported Pierce killed himself today.

Oh well another one bites the dust.One less politician/elected official not breathing my air. Dont care

[WNYresident]

Oh well another one bites the dust.One less politician/elected official not breathing my air. Dont care

Former highway chief found dead

MARILLA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The case of a former town highway leader who admitted to misuse has come to a tragic end.

55-year-old David Pierce, who just Monday was sentenced in Federal Court, has died of an apparent suicide, according to the Erie County Sheriff's Office.

Pierce was the former Marilla Highway Superintendent who admitted to charges of theft of government money.

Monday, he appeared before Chief Judge Richard Arcara, who sentenced him to seven months in prison, plus restitution of more than 20,000 dollars.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Pierce's body was found in the bed of a truck on his family's farm located on Four Rod Road in Marilla.

Authorities say he died of a gunshot wound to the head, and that he left behind a note.

Marilla Town Supervisor George Gertz said, "It's something that shouldn't of happened, I mean he made some bad choices. I mean the sentence was light in my consideration. He was only going to jail for seven months. He could've handled that. I don't know what was going on his mind. Obviously he couldn't handle any of it. He chose the way he chose to end the situation. You have to feel sorry for the family more than anybody else because of what he's done to them."

According to the United States Attorney's Office, Pierce stole money and services from the town in his official capacity as Superintendent of Highways. He held that elected position for twenty years.

We'll have more on the story Tuesday night On News 4 at 5 and 6, and WIVB.com.

Story by Investigative Reporter Luke Moretti, WIVB.