Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 44-year-old Vern Lockridge, operating under the name of Close2daedge Technology, Inc., pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge James F. Bargnesi to one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a “D” felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge contained in the indictment. 

The defendant admitted stealing $32,550 from the Boys and Girls Club of Western New York and failed to supply the Club with 42 laptops as part of a State grant awarded to the Club to purchase laptops for children’s use.  The defendant signed a Confession of Judgment for the full amount.

Lockridge faces a maximum sentence 7 years in prison when he is sentenced on May 7 at 9:30 a.m. 

DA Flynn commends Det. Sgt. John McGrath of the Buffalo Police Department for his work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Candace Vogel, Chief of the DA’s SIP Bureau.