John Evans, Timothy Finch Jailed in L.R.G.P. Gang Takedown

John Evans, 33, and Timothy Finch, 28, both of Buffalo, NY, are behind bars after being sentenced to 188 months and 168 months in federal prison for their roles in a violent street gang’s criminal empire. The duo was convicted of RICO conspiracy, with Evans also found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, marks a major blow to the L.R.G.P. gang’s operations on Buffalo’s East Side.

L.R.G.P., named after the streets of Lombard, Rother, Gibson, and Playter, operated as a tightly organized criminal enterprise dealing in drugs, violence, and intimidation. According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas S. Duszkiewicz and Joel L. Violanti, Evans and Finch were key players in planning the April 20, 2011 murder of rival gang member Amir Chambers, who was fatally shot by co-defendant Fred Keys. The hit was part of a broader campaign to eliminate competition and tighten control over drug territory.

The gang ran a notorious ‘trap house’ on Sobieski Street in Buffalo, where crack cocaine was distributed around the clock. The operation was overseen by L.R.G.P. leader Dewayne Gray, who was previously sentenced to 188 months in prison on September 9, 2016. Law enforcement described the Sobieski Street house as a hub of narcotics trafficking and criminal planning, deeply embedded in the gang’s revenue stream and power structure.

Evans and Finch are the latest in a wave of convictions tied to the L.R.G.P. crackdown. They are two of 19 identified members and associates indicted and convicted in the sprawling federal case. On May 8, 2015, another 11 gang affiliates were hit with separate indictments over crack cocaine distribution, signaling the government’s sustained push to dismantle the organization from top to bottom.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen. Federal prosecutors emphasized that the RICO charges reflect the organized nature of the gang’s operations, which included drug sales, murder conspiracies, and coordinated efforts to obstruct justice. The convictions underscore the DOJ’s strategy of using federal racketeering laws to dismantle entrenched street gangs.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed the sentences today, stating that violent gang activity will be met with maximum penalties under federal law. While the defendants have been sentenced, the government reminds the public that accusations alone do not constitute guilt—each defendant must be proven guilty in court. In this case, the evidence was overwhelming, sealing the fates of Evans, Finch, and their criminal network.