Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 51 year old Sheri Cooney of 53 Revere Road, Grand Island, pleaded guilty, as charged, to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree before Erie County Court Judge Thomas P. Franczyk.  This is the highest charge for which Cooney could have been convicted had she gone to trial. 

Cooney embezzled $18,52l from a special needs trust established for the benefit of her developmentally disabled daughter, who currently resides in a People Inc. group home.

Assistant District Attorney Gary Ertel, as well as Investigators John Abraham and Anthony Costantino, all of whom are assigned to DA Sedita’s Special Investigations and Prosecution Bureau, successfully investigated and prosecuted the case. Cooney faces a maximum prison term of 2-1/3 – 7 years when she is sentenced before Judge Franczyk on December 10, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.

DA Sedita also announced that 36 year-old Daniel Loster pleaded guilty, as charged, to a Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, Forgery in the Second Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and Petit Larceny before State Supreme Court Justice Penny M. Wolfgang.  These are the highest charges for which Loster could have been convicted had he gone to trial.

Loster defrauded one would-be tenant of approximately $1300 by pretending to be the landlord of a rental property; he defrauded another would-be tenant of approximately $650 using the same scam; and, he falsely claimed to be a landlord to the Erie County Department of Social Services.

Assistant District Attorney Paul Glascott successfully prosecuted the case. DA Sedita also praised the investigation of Buffalo Police Department Detective Sergeant John McGrath and Officer Kathleen Disarno. Loster faces a maximum prison term of 7 years when he is sentenced before the Hon. Penny Wolfgang on October 21, 2013.