Cheektowaga man pleads guilty to 15 felony charges in 8 crimes involving high-end vehicle theft in Erie County

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 21-year-old Richard E. Lucas III of Cheektowaga pleaded guilty on Friday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi to numerous felony charges in eight separate criminal cases. The defendant, who has been a suspect in numerous high-end vehicle thefts throughout Erie County, pleaded guilty to all counts in two indictments, as well as additional charges in six other crimes involving stolen vehicles.

Lucas admitted to knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, which he stole from an auto dealership on West Henrietta Road in Rochester on the evening of Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The defendant stole the vehicle’s key fob by swapping it with another generic key fob during a meeting at the dealership earlier the same day. The same day, at approximately 8:30 p.m., the defendant returned to the dealership and drove off with the Hellcat valued at $92,670.

The next day, investigators and dealership employees tracked the stolen vehicle to a garage, rented by the defendant, at an apartment complex on Indian Church Road in the Town of West Seneca. A search warrant was obtained for the defendant’s apartment and garage. Shortly after midnight on Friday, March 3, 2023, multiple large packages of cannabis, with a total weight of 5½ pounds, were found inside of the apartment. The stolen Hellcat was found inside of the defendant’s garage with damage to the front passenger side door and rearview mirror. Lucas was not present during the search of his property, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On Thursday, April 6, 2023, officers saw the defendant outside of the apartment on Indian Church Road. The defendant refused orders and struggled with officers while being placed under arrest. A detective suffered an injury to his left shoulder during the incident. The same day, Lucas was arraigned in West Seneca Town Court. He was released under supervision.

On Friday, Sept. 7, 2023, Lucas was arraigned before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment. He was held on bail set at $250,000 cash, insured bond or partially secured surety bond.

Lucas pleaded guilty, as charged, to one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree (class “C” felony), one count of attempted assault in the second degree, one count of criminal mischief in the third degree, one count of criminal possession of cannabis in the second degree (class “E” felonies) and one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the third degree (class “A” misdemeanor).

Lucas also admitted to knowingly and unlawfully being in possession of a 2021 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, valued at $90,000, which he stole from an auto dealership in the Town of Orchard Park during the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

On Thursday, July 6, 2023, at approximately 4 p.m., an Orchard Park Police detective observed the defendant driving the stolen vehicle in the area of Transit Road near Seneca Street in the Town of Elma. When the detective ordered the defendant to exit the vehicle, Lucas drove the stolen Hellcat across a field and over a ditch onto Seneca Street where he fled at a high-rate of speed. A pursuit was terminated after the defendant nearly hit a patrol vehicle and continued recklessly driving into the Village of East Aurora.

On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office located the stolen Hellcat parked outside of an apartment complex in the City of Buffalo. The vehicle was impounded and processed for evidence before being returned to the dealership. Lucas was linked to the crime through DNA and other evidence.

The matter was presented directly to a grand jury. Lucas was also arraigned before Judge Bargnesi on an indictment in this case on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. He was held without bail.

Lucas pleaded guilty, as a charged, to one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree (class “C” felony), one count of criminal mischief in the second degree (class “D” felony), one count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the third degree and one count of unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the third degree (class “A” misdemeanors).

As part of the plea agreement, Lucas, who was the subject of the investigation, pleaded guilty to nine charges in six additional vehicle theft crimes in Erie County.

During the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, the defendant stole two vehicles from a dealership on Sheridan Drive in the Town of Amherst. A 2022 Dodge Charger, valued at $85,000, was recovered on Dec. 13, 2022. The vehicle was found crashed and abandoned in Washington, D.C. A 2020 Dodge Challenger, valued at $65,000, was recovered Dec. 11, 2023, at the Buffalo Niagara Airport long-term parking lot.

During the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the defendant stole a 2022 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, valued at over $80,000, from an auto dealership on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Tonawanda.

During the early morning hours of Friday, June 2, 2023, the defendant stole two vehicles from an auto dealership on Southwestern Boulevard in the Town of Orchard Park. A 2021 Ford Mustang, valued at $87,107, was recovered on July 2, 2023, on the 100 block of Parkridge Avenue in the City of Buffalo. A 2017 Dodge Challenger, valued at $22,388, was recovered on June 28, 2023, on the first block of Rey Street in the City of Buffalo.

During the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the defendant stole two vehicles from an auto dealership on Alvin Road in the Town of Grand Island. A 2023 Chevrolet Camaro, valued at $60,000, was recovered on the 400 block of Broadway in the City of Buffalo. A 2023 Chevrolet Corvette, valued at $90,000, was recovered in a parking ramp on the 600 block of Delaware Avenue in the City of Buffalo.

During the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 18, 2023, the defendant stole two vehicles from an auto dealership on Main Street in the Town of Clarence. A 2022 Dodge Charger Hellcat, valued at $80,000, was recovered from Rey Street in the City of Buffalo on June 28, 2023. A 2022 Aston Martin Vantage, valued at $135,000, was recovered from the 500 block of Birchwood Square in the Town of West Seneca in October 2023.

During the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, the defendant unlawfully entered the same auto dealership in the Town of Clarence with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant is accused of stealing a key box then left the property. Over the course of a few hours, the defendant returned to the dealership three more times in order to steal three high-end vehicles from the property. A 2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG 63, valued at $204,850, was recovered a hotel near the Buffalo Niagara Airport in the Town of Cheektowaga on Sept. 5, 2023. A 2022 BMW M8 Gran Coupe Competition, valued at $104,650, was recovered from the 500 block of Swan Street in the City of Buffalo on Sept. 5, 2023. A 2021 Bentley Continental, valued at $235,850, was recovered from Buffalo Niagara Airport long-term parking lot in the Town of Cheektowaga.

For these crimes, Lucas pleaded guilty to five counts of grand larceny in the second degree (class “C” felonies), two counts of burglary in the third degree and two counts of criminal mischief in the second degree (class “D” felonies). 

Lucas faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second felony offender on Friday, April 19. He remains held without bail.

Flynn commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office (investigation led by Det. Richard Lundberg), West Seneca Police Department (investigation led by dets. Jill Gallagher and Kevin Carr), Amherst Police Department (investigation led by Det. Julian Chinana), Buffalo Police Department (investigation led by Lt. Jonathan Pietrzak and Det. Jason Schnelle), Orchard Park Police Department (investigation led by Det. James Mazur and Darryl Purucker), Lackawanna Police Department, Erie County Central Police Services crime analysis center and forensic laboratory, Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, East Aurora Police Department and all other assisting law enforcement agencies for their work in these investigations.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Milton D. Gordon of the motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud unit, assisted by Chief Ashley Morgan, Jerrica Raab, William Donovan, Luis Roberto, Kevin Brinkworth and the record room staff.