Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Corey Alan Anthony, 36, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty on Tuesday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes to two counts of Robbery in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felonies), one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and fifteen counts of Burglary in the Third Degree (Class “D” felonies). The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges ahead of his scheduled trial.
On January 17, 2023, the defendant was arrested for shoplifting at a home improvement store on the 2100 block of Elmwood Avenue in the City of Buffalo. During the incident, the defendant was served with a no-trespass notice, which banned him from entering any of the store’s locations for the next three years. On March 16, 2023, the defendant was caught in the act of stealing merchandise while inside of the same home improvement store. The defendant was confronted by Buffalo Police officers with the items inside of his jacket. The defendant was later identified as the suspect in seven other thefts captured on surveillance video at the store between January 24, 2023, and June 18, 2024. During one of the shoplifting incidents on June 15, 2024, the defendant displayed a hypodermic needle while leaving the store with stolen items.
On six separate occasions between October 31, 2023, and January 12, 2024, the defendant shoplifted items from a different store on the 2100 block of Elmwood Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The defendant placed merchandise, including soaps and other person hygiene items, into a bag and exited the store without paying, resulting in a total approximate loss of $3,000.
The defendant also shoplifted items from a grocery store on the 300 block of Amherst Street in the City of Buffalo on eight separate occasions between September 18, 2023, and June 19, 2024. During each incident, the defendant placed various merchandise into a bag and exited the store without paying. During the shoplifting incident on June 19, 2024, the defendant threatened an asset protection employee by displaying a hypodermic needle then fled with stolen merchandise. The defendant committed the crimes after being served with a no-trespass notice that permanently banned him from entering any of the store’s locations following a shoplifting incident in July 2017.
On June 2, 2024, the defendant shoplifted items from an auto repair shop on the 400 block of Hertel Avenue in the City of Buffalo.
The defendant, who was a participant in the Opioid Intervention Treatment Court program, was released on his own recognizance while pending prosecution for several larceny-related cases in Buffalo City Court. On April 2, 2024, Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon Heneghan issued a bench warrant after the defendant failed to appear in the diversion court program. An indictment warrant was issued by Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes after the defendant failed to appear for a scheduled arraignment on June 6, 2024. He was arrested by Buffalo Police on June 19, 2024. Anthony was held without bail at his arraignment.
Anthony faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. He remains held without bail. Temporary stay away orders of protection issued on behalf of the impacted stores remain in effect.
DA Keane commends Officer Kevin Bridge, Officer Ryan Urbanski, and Officer Anthony Banas of the Buffalo Police Department as well as the store managers and asset protection managers for their work in these investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin L. Southern of the Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Denise A. Herman of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.
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