Kevin J. Zimmerman, 23 years old, of Ellen Drive, Cheektowaga, pleaded guilty to three counts of Burglary in the Second Degree and six counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, as charged, in Erie County Court before the Honorable Thomas P. Franczyk. 

Zimmerman admitted that he burglarized three homes in Amherst and Cheektowaga in December 2012.  He also admitted that, along with his brother Jeffrey Zimmerman and Alfred Tatman, he burglarized six businesses in Amherst, Clarence, Alden, Akron, West Seneca and Elma between September and December 2012.   Zimmerman had been arrested in January 2013 in connection with these and a number of other burglaries throughout Erie County.   Kevin Zimmerman faces up to 50 years in state prison when sentenced by Judge Franczyk on July 22, 2013.

On May 28, 2013, Zimmerman’s brother, Jeffrey M. Zimmerman, 29 years old, also of Ellen Drive, Cheektowaga, pleaded guilty as charged to eight counts of Burglary in the Third Degree before Judge Francyzk.  Jeffrey Zimmerman also faces up to 50 years in state prison when sentenced by Judge Franczyk on July 8, 2013.

On April 29, 2013, the Zimmerman brothers’ accomplice, Alfred R. Tatman, 26 years old, of Big Tree Road, Orchard Park, pleaded guilty as charged to eight counts of Burglary in the Third Degree before State Supreme Court Justice Penny Wolfgang.  Tatman faces up to 50 years in state prison when sentenced by Justice Wolfgang on June 7, 2013.

The burglaries were principally motivated by the defendants’ longing to finance their heroin habit.

All the cases were successfully prosecuted by ADA Paul Bonanno, Chief of DA Sedita’s Felony Trials Bureau. DA Sedita praised his efforts, as well as those of the police agencies from multiple jurisdictions, noting: “Because of their coordinated efforts, three serial burglars will no longer be breaking into homes and businesses throughout Erie County.”