Kenmore woman stole $12,000 in cash from high school volleyball team fundraiser

Kenmore woman stole $12,000 in cash from high school volleyball team fundraiser

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 42-year-old Kerri Brown of Kenmore was arraigned this afternoon before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek on an indictment charging her with one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony).

The defendant, who was the treasurer of the Kenmore West Girl’s Volleyball Booster Club, became the subject of the investigation after the organization’s bank account had insufficient funds to purchase pizza for the high school student athletes. It is alleged that between July 2018 and June 2020, the defendant pocketed cash from various fundraisers, stealing approximately $12,129.00 from the organization.

Brown was released on her own recognizance as the charge is a non-qualifying offense for bail. A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.

If convicted of the charge, Brown faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends retired Detective Jeff Campanella of the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for his work in the investigation.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gary M. Ertel of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit.   

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Shore News Network Staff Report

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.