Skip to main content
Press Release

Rochester Man Sentenced For Charges Involving Stolen Property

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Brandon Meade, 27, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to transport and transfer stolen property with an aggregate value of at least $5,000 in interstate commerce, was sentenced to time served after serving nearly nine months in prison, by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott S. Allen, Jr., who handled the case, stated that the defendant ran East Side Gold and Car Audio, a pawn shop located at the corner of North Goodman and Clifford Avenues in Rochester. In that role, Meade assisted several other individuals, including co-defendant Rico J. Vendetti, in obtaining over $350,000 in stolen merchandise. The merchandise was obtained through an organized ring of shoplifters who stole from large retailers such as Walmart, Sears, Home Depot, JoAnn Fabrics, Tops, and Wegmans. The merchandise was then sold by Vendetti on eBay for approximately half of its retail value.

 Vendetti, along with Arlene Combs, Albert Parsons, and Donald Griffin, have been convicted in connection with the death of 78-year old Homer Marciniak, which occurred during the course of a home invasion robbery at Marciniak’s home in Medina, NY in July, 2010.  Meade was not involved in the home invasion. During the robbery, Marciniak’s valuable collection of collectible comic books was stolen and Marciniak was beaten. Several hours after being treated for bruises and lacerations suffered during the robbery, and released from the hospital, Marciniak was readmitted to the hospital where he died of a heart attack.

Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Craig Hanesworth, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Scott Hess, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn, the Medina Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jose Avila, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Ciminelli, and the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Joseph Cardone.

Updated January 22, 2016