BUFFALO — A pair of Buffalo men — John Evans, 33, and Timothy Finch, 28 — who were convicted of RICO conspiracy, were sentenced to 188 months and 168 months in prison respectively. Evans was also convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas S. Duszkiewicz and Joel L. Violanti, who handled the case, Evans and Finch were members of L.R.G.P., a violent street gang named after the East Side streets of Lombard, Rother, Gibson and Playter. On April 20, 2011, the defendants planned the murder of rival gang member Amir Chambers who was shot dead by co-defendant Fred Keys.
The defendants also sold crack cocaine from a “trap house” on Sobieski Street in Buffalo utilized by gang members. The house was run by L.R.G.P. leader Dewayne Gray who was sentenced to 188 months in prison on Sept. 9.
The defendants are two of 19 L.R.G.P. members and associates indicted and convicted in this case. On May 8, 2015, another 11 L.R.G.P. members and associates were also indicted on crack cocaine charges. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.
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