Buffalo woman pleads guilty for multiple shoplifting incidents after being banned from Walden Galleria

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 24-year-old Nyeaira E. Stallworth of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before State Supreme Court Paul B. Wojtaszek to four counts of burglary in the third degree and one count of grand larceny in the third degree (class “D” felonies). The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges in the indictment against her.

On four separate occasions between Dec. 31, 2022, and Jan. 25, 2023, the defendant knowingly entered and remained unlawfully inside of the Walden Galleria with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant entered the Walden Galleria knowingly in violation of a trespass notice that was served in April 2019 after a prior retail theft incident. The defendant stole multiple pairs of sunglasses, with an approximate total value of $4,900, from a retailer located within the mall.

On March 4, 2023, Stallworth was arrested for the retail theft incident that occurred on Jan. 25, 2023. On the same day, the defendant was arraigned in Cheektowaga Town Court where she posted bail set at $1,000 cash, $10,000 bond or $10,000 partially secured surety bond. The case, as well as three additional retail theft cases, were presented to the Grand Jury. The defendant failed to appear in court to be arraigned on the indictment on July 18, 2023. She was then arrested on an indictment warrant and returned to court to be arraigned today.

The defendant committed all of these crimes while pending sentence in another shoplifting-related case. On Nov. 3, 2021, approximately 4 p.m., the defendant stole various merchandise, valued at approximately $1,257, from a beauty supply store on Transit Road in the Town of Clarence. Stallworth pleaded guilty to one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree (class “E” felony) before Judge Wojtaszek. A bench warrant was issued after the defendant failed to appear for sentencing.

Stallworth faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison when she is sentenced on both cases on Monday, Nov. 27. She continues to be held without bail.

DA Flynn said, “Retail theft is financially devastating for stores, especially our small business owners. In addition to the negative economic impact for local businesses and our community, I am deeply concerned about the serious threat that thieves pose to the safety of employees and customers.

“I want the residents of Erie County to know that retail crime will not be tolerated, and I am committed to holding offenders – particularly repeat offenders – accountable. I am looking forward to continuing to work with our retailers on solutions to curb these crimes.”

Flynn commends Det. Christopher Lovallo, Cheektowaga Police Department, New York State Police, Walden Galleria security department and Erie County District Attorney’s Office confidential criminal investigators Natalie Perez, Kevin Brinkworth, Pam Harris and Mike Nigrelli for their work in these investigations.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan A. Emmerling of the special investigations and prosecutions (SIP) unit, and Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Brown of the felony trials bureau.