BUFFALO — A 55-year-old Alabama man was arraigned on charges of identity theft and scheming to defraud, accused of racking up nearly $13,000 in credit card bills all while pretending to be part of comedian Kevin Hart’s entourage.
According to Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr.. Leland Burks is accused of using stolen credit card numbers to purchase tickets to the April 17, 2015 Kevin Hart performance at the First Niagara Center. During the same time period, Burks allegedly posed as a member of Kevin Hart’s entourage and booked hotel rooms in the city of Buffalo, which were also paid with stolen credit card numbers. In total, Burks received approximately $12,710.20 in fraudulently obtained goods and services.
Burks had to be extradited from the state of Alabama, where he just finished serving a sentence. Burks pleaded not guilty at arraignment and was remanded to jail.
If convicted of these charges, he faces a mandatory state prison sentence, the maximum of which is 7-14 years.
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