BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Matthew Johnson, 28, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between late 2014 and May 2015, the defendant, along with several other members and associates of the L.R.G.P. Gang, sold and distributed crack cocaine in the areas of Lombard, Rother, Gibson, and Playter Streets in Buffalo. Johnson also sold cocaine out of 41 Houghton Street in Buffalo to various drug customers, including an undercover police officer.
During this conspiracy, on Dec. 14, 2014, the defendant shot and killed Terrell Taylor as he was walking in the area of Brinkman Avenue and Rohe Street in Buffalo. Johnson mistakenly believed that Taylor was a member of a rival gang.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
