Buffalo man charged with stealing more than $176,000 from elderly family member

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 35-year-old Buffalo man is accused of stealing more than $176,000 from an elderly family member.

Jamire Y. Barber was arraigned Tuesday before a state Supreme Court judge on one count of second-degree grand larceny.

The Erie County Prosecutor’s Office said the incident began in January 2022, when the elderly man was hospitalized following a fire in his home.

Barber, who investigators believe is a family member of the elderly man, was named as the contact person for the elderly man’s home insurance claim.

Barber allegedly received a check for the insurance claim on April 13, 2022, which was payable to his elderly relative in the amount of $176,410.10. Barber is accused of depositing the check into his own checking account.

Through cash withdrawals, Barber allegedly stole the majority of the insurance claims money, using it to purchase designer clothing, jewelry, vehicles and sports bets, according to investigators.

The Erie County Adult Protective Services Unit says Barber failed to support his elderly relative with medical or housing needs.

Barber is scheduled to return to court on May 28, and until then he will be held without bail.

Working with the Erie County Adult Protective Services Unit, they were assisted in the investigation by the Center for Elder Law & Justice, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General of the United States and the New York State Police.