Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 52-year-old Ilias Maredia and 50-year-old Latif Maredia, both of Stafford, Texas have admitted to stealing more than a $1,000,000 in state tax that was collected at 7 gas stations the defendants owned and operated here in Erie County.

The defendants pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Sheila DiTullio to Grand Larceny in the First Degree.

The defendants, who are brothers, stole $1,223,873.97 in sales tax collected through the operation of the 7 local gas stations they owned between March 1, 2008 and May 31, 2012.

They face a maximum sentence of 8 1/3-25 years in state prison when they are sentenced on September 26, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. by Judge DiTullio.

Acting DA Flaherty commends the Criminal Investigations Division of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance that investigated and referred the case for prosecution.

Assistant District Attorneys Gary M. Ertel and Holly P. Tucker of DA Flaherty’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau prosecuted the case.