Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 33-year-old Christopher L. Taylor of Buffalo was sentenced this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to 15 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
On August 11, 2021, at approximately 8:58 a.m., the defendant abducted an adult female from a parking lot on Pearl Street by forcing the victim into his vehicle at gunpoint. The defendant, who was not known to the victim, blindfolded the victim and drove her to an unknown residence before driving her to two bank locations in the City of Buffalo.
The defendant forced the victim to attempt to withdraw money from the ATM at both banks. After the transactions from the victim’s bank account were denied, the defendant drove to Wick Street where he allowed the victim to exit his vehicle. During the course of the kidnapping, the defendant stole the victim’s cell phone and bank card before placing her purse into a garbage tote on Wick Street.
After she was released, the victim ran southbound on Wick Street toward Broadway where she encountered an on-duty Erie County Sheriff’s Office deputy and reported the incident.
Taylor pleaded guilty to one count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony) on September 16, 2022. The defendant pleaded guilty to the only charge in the indictment against him.
A final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until January 2046.
DA Flynn commends Detectives Erin McCarthy and Molly Sanford of the Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi of the Felony Trials Bureau.
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