Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 32 year old Leslie “Les” Ralston of 12 Brookfield Lane, Cheektowaga, pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, as charged, before County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case.  This is the highest charge for which the defendant could have been convicted had he gone to trial. 

Ralston admitted that during the period between December 4, 2011 and January 18, 2012, he defrauded an 85year old victim out of approximately $18,450 by repeatedly representing to her that squirrels had damaged her roof and that he would repair the damaged roof.  In fact, there was no such squirrel damage to her roof and Ralston did no such repair work. 

Ralston’s older brother, Joseph Ralston, is currently serving a state prison sentence also having been convicted of Grand Larceny in connection with similar fraudulent home improvement schemes.  Ralston’s father, James Ralston, also has been convicted of Grand Larceny in connection with fraudulent home improvement schemes dating back to the 1980’s. 

Sentencing is scheduled for December 13, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. before the Hon. Kenneth F. Case when Ralston faces a maximum prison sentence of 2-1/3 to 7 years.