BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Buffalo man was sentenced Tuesday for attempting to rob three convenience stores for lottery tickets and cash in 2021.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office said that Cesarick Merritt, 35, was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.
According to the news release, on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2021, around 5:45 a.m., Merritt tried to forcibly steal $83 and 259 lottery tickets from a convenience store on the 400 block of Abbott Road after he pulled out what appeared to be a handgun at the clerk.
That same morning, shortly after 6 a.m., Merritt tried to steal an unknown amount of cash and lottery tickets from a convenience store on the 1000 block of Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga after he pulled out a gun on the clerk.
Then on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, shortly after 10:30 p.m., Merritt attempted to steal 14 packs of cigarettes from a convenience store on the 1000 block of East Lovejoy Street after he, again, pulled out a gun at the clerk.
On March 5, 2024, Merritt pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted robbery in the first degree.
As part of the sentencing agreement, orders of protection were issued on behalf of the victims of each robbery, which remain in effect until September 2039.
