Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 39-year-old Michael Church of Buffalo has pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski to three counts of Robbery in the Second Degree for the gunpoint robberies of three gas stations in Erie County.  

On July 14, 2017 at 10:12 p.m., the defendant held up the clerk at the Mobile gas station on Love Road on Grand Island and stole cash from the register. 

On July 15, 2017 at 5:12 a.m., the defendant, armed with an Uzi, robbed the Sunoco station on Union Road in Cheektowaga, stealing money and cigarettes. 

On July 16, 2017 at 3:30 a.m., the defendant committed an armed robbery of the Sunoco station on Delaware Avenue in the Town of Tonawanda, where he took money and cigarettes. 

A tip reported to Crime Stoppers Buffalo helped lead police to Church. 

Church faces 3 ½ to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced by Justice Michalski on September 26, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. 

DA Flynn commends the outstanding investigative work of Erie County Sheriff’s Detectives Jonathan Hanna, Cully Ferrick and Jack Graham, and Town of Tonawanda Detective Russell Paternostro and Cheektowaga Detective Joseph Crean. 

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Nash of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.