Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 41year old Shlaine Freeland of 166 Galding Avenue, Buffalo, pleaded guilty this afternoon to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, as charged, before County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio.  This is the highest charge for which the defendant could have been convicted had he gone to trial. 

Freeland admitted that during the period between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2012, as owner of a used car dealership and repair shop at 779 Genesee Street in Buffalo, he stole sales tax in the amount of $91,831.97 collected on behalf of the State of New York resulting from vehicle sales and did not report those earnings on his New York State Income Tax return.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. before the Hon. Sheila A. DiTullio when Freeland faces a maximum prison sentence of 5 to 15 years.