BUFFALO, N.Y. – A former top aide from former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's administration could soon be joining him at Western Regional Off-Track Betting.
Multiple sources believe OTB is planning to or has hired former First Deputy Mayor Steve Casey in some capacity with the public benefit corporation. One source says Casey has been hired, while two others say the hiring is imminent.
The New York State Horse Racing Licensing Database lists Casey as having an active license with an occupation listed as "General Services." Spectrum News 1 reached out to Casey, Brown and OTB but has yet to hear back.
Casey, long-considered one of Brown's closest confidants, left the administration in 2014. His political consulting company, LSA Strategies, LLC, pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge in 2021.
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the business schemed to defraud Chuck Swanick, a Democrat who ran on the Conservative Party line in the general election for the 60th State Senate District. The race was in 2012, when Casey was still working in the mayor's office.
The court ordered the company to pay more than $8,000 in restitution. Brown officially resigned as Buffalo mayor Tuesday morning and started his new position at OTB Wednesday.
At a press conference, Brown said he would bring two current staffers with him, to be announced later, but made no mention of the former deputy mayor. Brown recently pointed out his own Gaming Commission license application included a comprehensive background check.
Casey's company was dissolved as part of the sentencing. His LinkedIn profile lists him as director of operations for Western New York consulting firm Big Dog Strategies.
Big Dog founder Chris Grant has not yet responded to questions about Casey’s current job status.
“Steve Casey is a seasoned government professional who has over twenty-five years of strong public sector experience. Casey has an extensive senior management executive background serving in both the Executive and Legislative branches of government at the State, County and City levels,” his bio on the Big Dog website reads.
According to that bio, he also worked in multiple positions with the New York State Legislature and has five years of private sector experience as the CEO of a $500 million massive mixed-use master complex. That appears to be in reference to Casey’s employment with Syracuse-based developer Scott Congel to help lead still unrealized redevelopment plans for a former mall in West Seneca.