Jury Convicts Defendants for Stealing $176k+ from Elderly Family Member

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that a jury found Jamire Y. Barber, 37, of Buffalo, guilty of one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class C felony). Jurors rendered their decision yesterday afternoon after less than two hours of deliberation following a seven-day trial, convicting the defendant of the sole count of the indictment.

In January 2022, the victim, a 72-year-old man, was hospitalized due to a medical event when a fire occurred at his home on Brinkman Avenue in the City of Buffalo. After the fire, the defendant, a family member of the victim, served as the principal point of contact for the homeowner's insurance claim.

On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, the defendant received a check from the insurance company made payable to the victim in the amount of $176,410.10. Instead of depositing the check into a joint bank account shared by the defendant and the victim, the defendant deposited the money into his personal checking account. Over the course of four months, the defendant spent the majority of the victim's insurance claim. Instead of providing for the victim's medical and housing expenses, the defendant stole the money through cash withdrawals, online sports gambling, and numerous unauthorized purchases, including vehicles, designer clothes, and jewelry.

Barber is scheduled to return for a hearing to determine if he will be sentenced as a persistent felony offender before Erie County Court Judge Jessica Kulpit on Monday, November 23, 2026. If sentenced as a persistent felony offender, he faces a maximum possible sentence of 25 years to life in prison. His sentencing date has not been scheduled at this time. Barber continues to be held without bail.

DA Keane commends Erie County Adult Protective Services, Erie County Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Center for Elder Law & Justice, U.S. Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, New York State Police and The Bonadio Group for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Jurusik of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Rachel Schepart of the Felony Trials Bureau.