COURTS: Pendleton man found guilty of fraud

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February 1, 2010

Staff Reports The Niagara Gazette Mon Feb 01, 2010, 10:50 PM EST

A man accused of selling $130,000 worth of phony travel vouchers to nonprofit and charity groups pleaded guilty Monday before Niagara County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III.

Joseph Ehrenreich of Pendleton, owner of Destination Management Group of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to second-degree scheme to defraud, according to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The AG’s office said Ehrenreich has paid $130,000 in restitution,

Cuomo said the defendant sold cruise packages to non-profit and other organizations without ever booking the trips.

“This travel agent told not-for-profits that he would help them raise money, then lied, and ended up costing the organizations money,” Cuomo said. “His deceptive scheme of selling fake vouchers caused these worthwhile organizations to have to pony up additional cash in order to make ends meet. We have put a stop to the ploy, and he must now pay for his actions.”

Many of these organizations took it upon themselves to reimburse the individuals, the attorney general said.

Ehrenreich is due back in county court April 19 for sentencing.

TRAVEL VOUCHER SCAM VICTIMS

Among the charitable groups and organizations that were scammed with phone travel vouchers by Joseph Ehrenreich of Pendleton and his Destination Management Group of Buffalo:

• Hospice and Palliative Care Group of Niagara County

• A magazine, After 50 News, donated a $3,000 voucher to a benefit being held for Buffalo Police Officer Patricia Parete, who was seriously injured in the line of duty, and to the Beechwood Continuing Care fundraiser

• Twelfth annual Auction and Food Extravaganza Fundraiser for the Beechwood/Blocher Foundation

• Meals on Wheels Foundation of Western New York

Source: State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office

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