Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Yasir S. Creach, 44, of Buffalo, was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to 1 ½ to 3 years in prison. He was sentenced today as a second felony offender.
On Monday, February 24, 2025, the victim received a threatening letter from an inmate who was serving a local jail sentence in the Erie County Correctional Facility. The victim, who currently serves as a Cheektowaga Town Court Justice, imposed a sentence of 90 days in jail after the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Petit Larceny (Class “B” misdemeanor) on February 6, 2025. The defendant sent the letter with the intent to harass, which placed the victim and his family in reasonable fear of harm.
Creach pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Harassment of a Judge (Class “E” felony) on April 8, 2025. The defendant entered a guilty plea to the highest sustainable charge. Today, a final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until May 2033.
The defendant is the first person to be charged and convicted under New York State Penal Law 240.33 “Aggravated Harassment of a Judge” in Erie County. This crime involves a person who engages in threatening communication and/or physical contact with the intent to harass a judge or a member of their immediate family, and the perpetrator knows or should know that such an act will place the victim(s) in reasonable fear of harm. This crime was added to the New York State Penal Code effective July 19, 2024, after the legislation was passed as part of last year’s state budget.
DA Keane commends the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney of the Felony Trials Bureau.
