BUFFALO — Fifty-two-year-old Ilias Maredia and 50-year-old Latif Maredia, both of Stafford, Texas have admitted to stealing more than a $1,000,000 in state tax that was collected at seven gas stations the defendants owned and operated in Erie County, according to Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr.
The defendants, who are brothers, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree grand larceny in the case in which they reportedly pocketed $1,223,873.97 in sales tax collected through the operation of the seven local gas stations they owned between March 1, 2008 and May 31, 2012.
They face a maximum sentence of 8 1/3-25 years in state prison when they are sentenced on Sept. 26.
