Buffalo Man Alexander Rivera-Santiago Cops 33 Months for Gun Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A high-speed foot chase ended with bullets in his pocket and a revolver nearby — now, Alexander Rivera-Santiago, 32, of Buffalo, is headed to federal prison for 33 months after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Feds say on January 31, 2016, Buffalo Police tried to pull over a vehicle with Rivera-Santiago inside. Officers activated lights and sirens — the car didn’t stop. Instead, it bolted, blowing through stop signs, mounting sidewalks, and tearing across a parking lot in a desperate bid to evade law enforcement.

When the car finally stopped, both the driver and Rivera-Santiago jumped out and ran. Cops caught up to Rivera-Santiago quickly. A search turned up six .22 caliber rounds stashed in his left pocket. Minutes later, officers found a .22 caliber revolver near the spot where he’d fled — a gun he’s legally barred from touching.

Riverer-Santiago’s criminal past sealed his fate. He’d already been convicted on felony charges in Florida, stripping him of any right to own or carry a firearm. That prior record turned a local gun bust into a federal offense — and landed him in the crosshairs of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler and brought by Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. Sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, who imposed the 33-month prison term as a warning against armed felons testing their luck on city streets.

The conviction culminates a joint investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, led by Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and ATF Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan M. Benedict’s New York Field Division. No additional charges have been filed against the driver at this time.

RELATED: Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gun Possession