Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 31-year-old Justice C. Coniglio of Buffalo was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on an indictment charging him with two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (Class “B” felonies) and one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony).
It is alleged that on December 1, 2021, at approximately 11:15 p.m., the defendant was driving eastbound on Clinton Street at a high-rate of speed, while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, when he rear-ended another vehicle that was stopped at the intersection of Babcock Street in the City of Buffalo. The force of the collision caused the victim’s vehicle to rear-end a second vehicle that was also stopped at the intersection.
The driver of the vehicle that was initially hit was fatally injured. The victim, 47-year-old James Boyd of Pennsylvania, died at the scene. The defendant was taken to ECMC where he was treated for serious injuries. The driver of the second vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Coniglio is scheduled to return on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. for further proceedings. He continues to remain held without bail.
If convicted of all charges, Coniglio faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.
DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit their work in this case.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott and Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
