Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 35-year-old Gioacchino Aquino of Buffalo has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski to an indeterminate sentence of 2 to 4 years in prison.

Between January 2, 2018 and January 10, 2018, the defendant used a crow bar to gain access to gas stations in Amherst, Cheektowaga, Lancaster, Town of Tonawanda and West Seneca. Once inside, the defendant stole items such as cigarettes, lotto tickets and beef jerky. The defendant caused thousands of dollars in damage to five gas stations in Erie County.

Aquino, a second time felony offender, pleaded guilty to five counts of Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree in April 2018.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work by all police agencies involved in the investigation, including the traffic stop conducted by the Amherst Police officer that lead to the arrest of the defendant.

Assistant District Attorney Amy Beatrice Benedict of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau prosecuted the case.