AUBURN - A drug dealer admitted in Cayuga County Court Tuesday that he robbed a customer at knife-point after he discovered the man was an undercover informant working for the police.

Frederick Tanner III, 19, of 62 King St., Apartment 2, Port Byron, told Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich that he found a voice recording device, which was used by the police, hidden on the client after his brother, Brent Tanner, 21, of the same address, sold the man 3.5 grams of cocaine on March 26. The younger brother then admitted he pulled a knife on the man and threatened him as he proceeded to take back the drugs.

Brent Tanner pleaded guilty on Sept. 22 for his involvement in the crime.

In addition to pleading guilty to second-degree robbery and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, both felonies, Frederick Tanner also pleaded guilty to attempted robbery for his involvement in a separate crime on Sept. 1.

In that incident, Tanner said he and Stacy Tanner, 36, a transient, and Stacee Sigl, 22, of 297 Seymour St., Auburn, beat up a Fitch Street resident and stole $60 from his wallet.

As part of his plea deal, Tanner is expected to receive up to four years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 25.

Brent and Frederick Tanner are the sons of Frederick E. Tanner Jr., who was murdered during a botched Syracuse drug deal in 2003. The sons were 14 and 15 years old when they saw Tyquan Pringle, who was later convicted of the murder, shoot their father in the head.

Also in court:

• An Auburn man was sentenced to six months in the Cayuga County Jail with 10 years of probation for raping a 16-year-old girl.

Christopher Verdi, 25, of 65 E. Genesee St., Auburn, apologized to his family and the victim, and said he had been seeking alcohol treatment to deal with his problems that led to the crime.

Verdi was granted a request to report to the jail on Oct. 10 so that he could finish his counseling and make preparations with his employer.

Verdi was also ordered to pay $1,370 in fines and fees

• A local man is expected to receive a shock probation jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1,000 in scrap metal on May 19.

Shawn Sanders, 30, of 4048 Wolcott Spring Lake, Savannah, admitted that he committed felony grand larceny when he stole 50 aluminum window frames and several pieces of copper piping as he drove by a Victory residence.

Sanders may be allowed to use the three months he has already spent in the county jail as time served for the shock portion of his probation when he is sentenced on Nov. 25.

• An Auburn woman could face up to seven years in prison if she fails to return the $5,850 that she stole in unemployment benefits.

During her court appearance, Melissa Whyte, 39, of 7 Arlington Ave., Auburn, pleaded guilty to forgery, falsifying business records and grand larceny after she collected several unemployment checks between April and August of 2007.

Whyte told the judge that while she lost her full-time job, she failed to mention that she was still employed part time when she filled out an application for the program.

If Whyte makes full restitution before she is sentenced on Dec. 2, she will receive shock probation instead of prison.

• A local man pleaded not guilty to six felony charges that stemmed from an incident where he is accused of raping a women while he burglarized her house.

Elmer Wilson III, 32, was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sex abuse, second-degree burglary, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and two counts of first-degree criminal contempt. Wilson was also charged with aggravated harassment and menacing, both misdemeanors.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net