Gregory Trotter, a 51-year-old former detective with the Amherst Police Department, has pleaded guilty to impeding a federal officer. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo in Buffalo, New York. Trotter entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and faces up to one year in jail and a $100,000 fine.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose, the case stems from an incident in September 2022 when an FBI Special Agent met with Trotter regarding his role in a 2019 investigation into the alleged theft of a Rolex watch owned by Peter Gerace. During questioning about whether Gerace had contacted him during the active investigation, Trotter denied any such contact multiple times.
Penrose stated that during this exchange, Trotter "reacted with disproportionate emotion and became physically animated, losing his professional bearing." Due to his position as a trained law enforcement officer who might have been armed at the time, Trotter's conduct intentionally impeded the agent’s duties.
U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo commented on the case: “This defendant, a police officer, who was sworn to protect and serve, intentionally impeded the duties of another sworn law enforcement officer, and as a result he now stands convicted of committing a federal crime.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the inquiry under Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera’s direction.
Sentencing for Trotter is set for May 22, 2026 at 1:30 p.m., before Judge Vilardo.
