$200,000 in Quarters Stolen From Parking Meters
- 12 years ago
$200,000 in Quarters Stolen From Parking Meters - as part of the news series by GeoBeats.
For most of us, a parking meter only means one thing - cash outflow.
However, a city worker in Buffalo, New York found the meters quite profitable.
57-year-old, James Bagarozzo reportedly admitted in court to stealing $210,000 in quarters, while working as a parking meter mechanic. FBI officials scoured his home and found wads of money, $3,000 in quarters and an additional $40,000 tucked away above the bedroom ceiling.
From 2003 to 2011, Bagarozzo stole from more than 75 meters that he was supposed to be repairing. Surveillance footage showed Bagarozzo swiping quarters very frequently.
He told the judge that gambling and a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease led him to steal the money.
Bagarozzo has been fired and he will face court sentencing on December 17th.
Another Buffalo worker also found himself in a similar situation. 40-year-old Lawrence Charles, who just happens to be Bagarozzo’s co-worker, recently pleaded guilty to stealing $15,000 in quarters from 2007 through 2011 while working as a meter mechanic. He would reportedly place the stolen money in cups and envelopes in his work truck, before dropping the quarters off at home.
For most of us, a parking meter only means one thing - cash outflow.
However, a city worker in Buffalo, New York found the meters quite profitable.
57-year-old, James Bagarozzo reportedly admitted in court to stealing $210,000 in quarters, while working as a parking meter mechanic. FBI officials scoured his home and found wads of money, $3,000 in quarters and an additional $40,000 tucked away above the bedroom ceiling.
From 2003 to 2011, Bagarozzo stole from more than 75 meters that he was supposed to be repairing. Surveillance footage showed Bagarozzo swiping quarters very frequently.
He told the judge that gambling and a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease led him to steal the money.
Bagarozzo has been fired and he will face court sentencing on December 17th.
Another Buffalo worker also found himself in a similar situation. 40-year-old Lawrence Charles, who just happens to be Bagarozzo’s co-worker, recently pleaded guilty to stealing $15,000 in quarters from 2007 through 2011 while working as a meter mechanic. He would reportedly place the stolen money in cups and envelopes in his work truck, before dropping the quarters off at home.