Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty Jr. announced that 53 year-old James T. Mosley, III of Sandford Street, Buffalo, NY, was sentenced as charged today to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, before Erie County Court Judge Thomas P. Franczyk. The defendant was sentenced to six months in prison to be satisfied with four months of weekends and five years probation.  Mosley was ordered to pay $14,383 in restitution.

Mosley’s conviction stems from the financial exploitation of his 93 year old grandmother from July, 2012, through November, 2014.  Using a Power of Attorney, the defendant systematically removed money from her monthly income to a total of $14,838.17, leaving her to live on approximately $200 per month.

The situation was brought to the attention of law enforcement by Heather Griffith, a social worker at the adult center the victim attended, after the victim reported she was unable to purchase her medication.

According to Acting District Attorney Flaherty, “Once again this case illustrates both the vulnerability of our senior citizens and the despicable lows to which some members of our society will stoop in order to take advantage of our elderly.  As Erie County’s Acting District Attorney, I will aggressively prosecute those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our community.”

DA Flaherty gave special credit to the Legal Services for the Elderly, Assistant District Attorney Candace Vogel and Investigator Anthony Costantino from his office for their work in this case.