STAFF REPORTS
BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Raymel Weeden, 25, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to discharge of a firearm causing death. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Felicetta, who is handling the case, stated that on February 9, 2012, the defendant, a Bailey Boys Gang associate, along with Bailey Boys Gang member Rayshod Washington, attempted to rob Fred Rozier of drugs and money. During the course of the attempted robbery, when Fred Rozier resisted the robbery attempt, Weeden shot and killed Rozier.
The Bailey Boys Gang is a violent criminal gang which operates in an area of the City of Buffalo bounded by Winspear Avenue, the Kensington Expressway, Eggert Road and Main Street.
Rayshod Washington was previously convicted.
Today’s plea is the result of an ongoing investigation on the part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in close cooperation with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney John Flynn; the Buffalo Police Department, under direction of Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the Direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy B. Howard; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 10, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.
