Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III announced that 49 year-old Anthony Mills was convicted, as charged, of four counts of Burglary in the Second Degree after a one-week trial before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio.

Mills’ conviction stems from daytime residential burglaries that occurred on November 2, 2011, December 7, 2011 and December 19, 2011 in the Town of Grand Island as well as December 7, 2011 residential burglary in the Town of Elma. Mills principally carried off jewelry, expensive electronics, and wrapped Christmas presents, leading one victim to lament, “He even stole the roast beast.”

Mr. Mills is no stranger to the criminal justice system. He has 16 prior criminal convictions, 10 of which are for felonies. Indeed, Mr. Mills has spent 22 out of the last 30 years in prison and was on parole (in connection with a perjury conviction), at the time of these burglaries.

The case was successfully prosecuted by ADA John Schoemick, Chief of DA Sedita’s Buffalo City Court Bureau, and ADA Ashley Morgan, a member of DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau. DA Sedita also lauded the efforts of Sheriff’s Detective Brian O’Hara and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, stating: “Because of their tireless efforts, a career criminal has been brought to justice and will, hopefully, be making the final payment on his quest to serve life in prison on the installment plan.”

Mills’ sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2013 before Judge DiTullio. He faces a definite prison term of 50 years or an indeterminate prison term of 16 years to life if he is adjudicated a Persistent Violent Felony Offender.