Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 51-year-old James Bass of North Tonawanda pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for stealing $9,145 from an elderly Cheektowaga woman. 

From October 2015 to February 2016, the defendant, who is the victim’s former insurance agent, cashed checks written by the victim who believed the money was going toward investments. 

Bass faces up to 7 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Case on April 5, 2019. Prior to sentencing, the defendant must first go through a two-year drug diversion program. 

DA Flynn commends detectives from the Cheektowaga Police Department for their help in the investigation. 

Chief Candace K. Vogel of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau prosecuted the case.