District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that 51 year-old Ilias Maredia and 48 year-old Latif Maredia of Stafford, Texas were arraigned today before the Hon. Michael Pietruszka on an indictment charging them with Grand Larceny in the First Degree and nine counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. 

It is alleged that between March 1, 2008 and May 31, 2012, the Maredia brothers evaded and stole $1,223,873.97 in sales tax in connection with their operation of seven gas stations in Erie County. An indictment was issued on May 28,  2014 and both defendants were arrested in the State of Texas on June 4,  2014. The People asked that the defendants be remanded into the custody of the Erie County Sheriff or, in the alternative, that bail be set at 1.2 million dollars, an amount slightly less than what the defendants allegedly stole. Judge Pietruszka set bail at $100,000, cash or property.

If convicted of these crimes, both defendants face a maximum of 12-36 years in state prison.

Like all defendants accused of a crime, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.