Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 35-year-old Maurice J. Land of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens to 2 to 4 years in prison. He was sentenced today as a second felony offender.
On January 15, 2023, the defendant knowingly entered and remained unlawfully inside of a home improvement store on Thruway Plaza in the Town of Cheektowaga with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant stole an air compressor and accessories, valued at approximately $778, by leaving the store without paying for the items. The defendant knowingly entered the store in violation of a three-year no trespass order issued following a prior incident.
On February 8, 2023, the defendant knowingly entered and remained unlawfully inside of a home improvement store on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Amherst with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant stole various light fixtures, valued at approximately $787, by leaving the store without paying for the items. The defendant knowingly entered the store in violation of a three-year no trespass order issued following a prior incident.
On April 5, 2023, at approximately 5:00 p.m., an Amherst Police officer initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle that was driving without headlines on Niagara Falls Boulevard. The defendant, who was the passenger of the vehicle, was wanted on a warrant. Police discovered that the defendant was knowingly in violation of an existing order of protection issued on behalf of the driver of the vehicle.
Land pleaded guilty to two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree (Class “D” felonies) and one count of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree (Class “E” felony), the highest sustainable charges, on May 2, 2023.
“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. I want the retailers in Erie County to know that these thefts will not be tolerated and that my office will continue to hold these offenders accountable for their crimes,” said Erie County DA John Flynn.
DA Flynn commends the Amherst Police Department, Buffalo Police Department and Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in these investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick E. Swanson of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions (SIP) Unit.
