Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 48-year old Anibal Castro, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree, Possession of Burglar’s Tools and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the Third Degree on February 26, 2016  in State Supreme Court before Justice Penny M. Wolfgang in connection with the theft of new tires and rims from West Herr Chevrolet in Hamburg. 

Castro, along with a co-defendant, drove a stolen truck to the West Herr Chevrolet lot and removed tires and rims worth nearly $4000 from a new truck on the sales lot which was found on cement blocks. 

The head of security for West Herr who is also a retired Town of Hamburg police officer noticed their suspicious activity in the early morning hours of October 26, 2015 and apprehended Castro and a co-defendant with the new tires loaded into the stolen truck.  Also in the truck were additional cement blocks. 

Officers Jonathan Monaco, James Linchon and Daniel Cronmiller arrested the defendants. 

Sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2016. 

The co-defendant, Peter Perez’ case is still pending.

Erie County Assistant District Attorney Karen Korkuc prosecuted the case.