Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 60 year-old Marilee Leach of 2585 Walden Avenue, Cheektowaga, a previously convicted embezzler, pleaded guilty, as charged, to two counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree before Supreme Court Justice Russell Buscaglia.   These are the highest charges for which she could have been convicted had she gone to trial.

Leach admitted that during the period between December 31, 2007 and November 15, 2012, while employed by Harbour Place Marine Sales, 2192 Niagara Street, Buffalo, as a bookkeeper, she stole a total of $52,419 by writing unauthorized checks to herself.  Leach also admitted that during the period between May 25, 2011 and December 9, 2012, while employed as a bookkeeper by Acqua Restaurant and Banquets, also of  2192 Niagara Street, Buffalo, and using various methods, she stole money from that company as well.  Leach signed a Confession of Judgment in the amount of $39,515 to the benefit of the owner of Acqua Restaurant and Banquets. 

In what can charitably be characterized as a remarkable co-incidence, Leach was convicted in Federal Court in 1996 in connection with her theft of $120,000 from Belmont Management/Belmont Construction, for which she served one year in Federal prison. 

Chief John C. Doscher, as well as Investigators Mark Stambach and Anthony Costantino, all of whom are assigned to DA Sedita’s Special Investigations and Prosecution Bureau, successfully investigated and prosecuted the case. 

Leach faces a maximum prison term of 14 years when she is sentenced before Justice Buscaglia on February 26, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.