Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that one adult defendant, one adolescent offender and one juvenile offender have been arraigned for their alleged involvement in a crime that involved an armed robbery and stolen vehicles in the City of Buffalo.
It is alleged that on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at approximately 8:20 p.m., the victim was pumping gas into his Nissan Sentra on the 600 block of Tonawanda Street in the City of Buffalo when he was approached by an unknown adolescent male who was armed with what appeared to be a handgun. The adolescent offender forcibly stole the victim’s wallet, cellphone, car keys and his vehicle.
During the investigation, Buffalo Police detectives determined that a stolen Ford Escape had driven the adolescent suspect and juvenile suspect to the location on Tonawanda Street then followed the stolen Nissan as it was driven away from the area. The Ford Escape had been reported stolen the previous day from a location in the Town of Tonawanda.
Buffalo Police later recovered the stolen Nissan on the 100 block of Winspear Avenue after a brief pursuit where the 16-year-old robbery suspect and two other teenagers were taken into custody. A disassembled handgun was recovered and submitted into evidence for further analysis. The stolen Ford was recovered on Person Street where an 18-year-old male and two other teenagers were arrested.
Travon Guilford, 18, of Buffalo was arraigned on Wednesday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Peter Savage, III on one count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony) and one count of Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor).
Guilford is scheduled to return on Monday, January 8, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was held on bail set at $100,000 cash or $250,000 bond. If convicted of the highest charge, Guilford faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
A 16-year-old male was arraigned on Wednesday morning before Youth Part Judge Brenda M. Freedman on one count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), one count of Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree (Class “B” felony), one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony), one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree and one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors).
A 15-year-old male was also arraigned on Wednesday before Judge Freedman on one count of Robbery in the First Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree.
Both the adolescent and juvenile arraigned offenders are scheduled to return on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. for a felony hearing. They were remanded to the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center.
A 17-year-old male was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree. He was given an appearance ticket to be arraigned before Youth Part Judge Freedman on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.
A 17-year-old female was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree. She was also given an appearance ticket to be arraigned before Judge Freedman on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.
A 14-year-old male was charged with one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree and one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree. Due to the age of the juvenile offender, the matter will be handled in Family Court.
DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department for their work in this ongoing investigation. Additional charges may be filed.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Denise A. Herman and James L. Harrington of the Raise the Age Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
