Serial shoplifter to serve prison sentence

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 38-year-old Justin K. White of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Betty Calvo-Torres to 3½ to 7 years in prison.

Over the course of five months, the defendant stole merchandise from four stores on six separate occasions. Four of the crimes occurred at retailers where the defendant was previously served a “no trespass” notice during a previous shoplifting incident, which barred him from entering any of the store’s locations. The defendant stole various items, including electronic devices, kitchen tools, clothing, food and drinks, with a total estimated value in excess of $5,000.

On Nov. 26, 2022, the defendant knowingly and unlawfully entered a store on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Amherst with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant was previously banned from entering the store after a prior incident in March 2020. The defendant exited the store without paying for merchandise valued at $1,536.99.

Two days later, on Nov. 28, 2022, the defendant knowingly and unlawfully entered the same store on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant exited the store without paying for merchandise valued at $1,099. The loss prevention employee confronted the defendant in the parking lot, but the defendant fled the scene in a vehicle.

On Jan. 4, 2023, White was arrested for the two shoplifting incidents. He was arraigned in Amherst Town Court on two counts of burglary in the third degree and two counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree. He was released on Jan. 21, 2023.

On Jan. 30, 2023, the defendant was arrested again after he exited a store on Amelia Drive in the Town of Orchard Park without paying for merchandise valued at approximately $1,006. The defendant was previously banned from all retail locations following a prior shoplifting incident in October 2022. He was arraigned in Orchard Park Town Court on one count of burglary in the third degree and one count of grand larceny in the fourth degree. As the defendant was accused of committing a felony involving harm against property while released on another pending felony case involving harm against property, White was held on bail set at $2,500 cash, $10,000 bond, and $25,000 partially secured surety bond.

At the time of his arrest, the defendant was under investigation for stealing merchandise, valued at approximately $341, from the same retailer on Jan. 23, 2023. He was arraigned in Orchard Park Town Court on one count of burglary in the third degree and one count of petit larceny. In this case, bail was also set at $1,000 cash, $1,500 bond or $10,000 partially secured surety bond.

The defendant posted bail and was released from the Erie County Holding Center on March 19, 2023.

While in custody, the defendant was indicted on charges related to two additional retail theft cases.

On March 20, 2023, the defendant unlawfully entered a different store on Amelia Drive in the Town of Orchard Park with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant had been previously served a trespass notice in March 2020. The defendant left the store without paying for merchandised valued at $1,359.

On Jan. 29, 2023, the defendant exited a home improvement store on Transit Road in the Town of Amherst with five windows, valued at $1,250, without paying for the merchandise.

White pleaded guilty to six counts of burglary in the third degree, one count of grand larceny in the third degree (class “D” felonies) and three counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree (class “E” felonies), the highest sustainable charges, on Dec. 18, 2023.

DA Flynn commends the Amherst Police Department and the Orchard Park Police Department for their work in these investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan A. Emmerling of the special investigations and prosecutions (SIP) bureau.