ERIE COUNTY, NY – On Monday, 46-year-old Cynthia L. Matla of Hamburg was handed a 5-year probation sentence by State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller.
From January 1, 2019, to August 29, 2022, Matla, in her capacity as a bookkeeper, misappropriated over $168,000 from the Southtowns Regional Chamber of Commerce. She issued checks to herself and used the chamber’s debit card for personal expenses.
Her actions came to light when the chamber’s bank account was overdrawn. Moreover, Matla failed to report the accurate income in her New York State tax return.
As part of her plea deal, she repaid $178,682.96 in restitution to the chamber and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
On June 8, she pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree. Detective John Wright of the Town of Hamburg Police Department received commendation from DA Flynn for his role in the investigation.