BUFFALO, N.Y. — A New York State parks employee pleaded guilty on Tuesday afternoon before a State Supreme Court to one count of Official Misconduct.
Daniel Blamowsk, 52, of Orchard Park had been working as an engineer for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation from December 2020 to July 2021.
During that time, Blamowski admitted to fraudulently obtaining state wages by submitting time sheets for hours of work that he performed while also working for an unapproved outside employer with an out-of-state private contractor.
“Together, we will continue to prosecute any public employee who steals from the taxpayers of New York. In addition to pleading guilty today, this defendant must pay back the wages he was paid by York State Parks while also working for another employer. I want to thank the Offices of the New York State Inspector General and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for their work in this investigation. I encourage anyone with information on suspected time theft or other corruption within our state agencies to contact my office’s Public Integrity Unit or the Inspector General’s Office,” said Acting District Attorney Mike Keane in a released statement.
“For one hundred years, the public servants who comprise what is now New York State’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation have led the nation in safeguarding and preserving our state’s precious natural assets for all to enjoy," said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. "Integrity in the allocation of resources is crucial to maintaining and providing access to the 360,000 acres of our state’s parks, trails, beaches, historic sites, and campgrounds. My office and the dedicated staff of OPRHP are committed to these principles and to identifying those who would undermine them.”
“OPRHP is committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity," said Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. "I commend staff who brought this to the attention of authorities. We are grateful to the Inspector General’s Office and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office for their thorough investigation and prosecution of this matter.”
When he is sentenced on July 24, Blamowski faces a maximum of one year in jail. Until then he has been released on his own recognizance and as a part of his plea has been instructed to pay $4,111.51 in restitution to the State of New York.