Top County Democrat is Arrested

Lockport- Katie J. Rich, 31 of North Tonawanda, NY, listed on the Niagara County Democratic committee website as the party's first vice chair and their sergeant at arms, was arrested for Grand Larceny 4th, Falsifying Business Records 1st and Offering a False Instrument 1st, all Class E Felonies.

The New York State Police, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Labor, allege that between March 26, 2012 and July 1, 2012 on 12 occasions, Rich fraudulently obtained $2,600.00 in unemployment benefits while she was gainfully employed by Niagara County as a Board of Election Clerk.

A party loyalist, she got her job at the Board of Elections during the chairmanship of Dan Rivera

Rich was arrested and processed at SP Lockport and issued an appearance ticket returnable to the City of Lockport Court on April 1, 2015.

The Democrat Party nominated and endorsed her twice for a seat in the County Legislature, running both time against Republican Peter Smolinski in 2009 and 2011, and losing twice.