(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, NY — Corey Alan Anthony, 36, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges on Tuesday in connection with a series of shoplifting incidents at four separate retailers across the city. The guilty plea, entered before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes, includes two counts of Robbery in the First Degree, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and fifteen counts of Burglary in the Third Degree.
Anthony’s criminal activities began in January 2023, when he was arrested for shoplifting at a home improvement store on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Following his arrest, he was served with a no-trespass notice banning him from the store’s locations for three years. Despite this, Anthony was caught stealing again at the same store on March 16, 2023, where he was confronted by Buffalo Police officers after attempting to leave with stolen items concealed in his jacket.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Anthony was involved in at least seven other thefts at the same store between January and June 2024. During one of these incidents, on June 15, 2024, he displayed a hypodermic needle while fleeing the store with stolen merchandise.
In addition to the home improvement store thefts, Anthony also targeted other businesses. Between October 31, 2023, and January 12, 2024, he shoplifted from another retailer on Elmwood Avenue, taking goods valued at approximately $3,000. Between September 2023 and June 2024, Anthony committed multiple thefts at a grocery store on Amherst Street, once again using the same method of placing items into a bag and leaving the store without paying. During one of these incidents on June 19, 2024, he threatened an employee with a hypodermic needle before fleeing with stolen goods.
Anthony’s criminal activities continued on June 2, 2024, when he was caught shoplifting at an auto repair shop on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo.
Prior to his arrest in June 2024, Anthony was participating in the Opioid Intervention Treatment Court program but failed to appear for court-ordered proceedings. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody on June 19, 2024, after failing to attend a scheduled arraignment.
Anthony faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 17, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. He remains held without bail, and temporary stay-away orders of protection remain in place for the impacted businesses.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended the work of the Buffalo Police Department officers, including Officer Kevin Bridge, Officer Ryan Urbanski, and Officer Anthony Banas, along with the store managers and asset protection teams for their efforts in bringing the defendant to justice.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kevin L. Southern and Denise A. Herman.
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