Buffalo’s streets have once again been stained with tragedy, as 28-year-old Matthew Johnson, a member of the notorious L.R.G.P. gang, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge involving the distribution of crack cocaine and the chilling murder of an innocent man.
The defendant, Johnson, admitted to selling and distributing at least 28 grams of crack cocaine in Buffalo’s Lombard, Rother, Gibson, and Playter Streets neighborhoods between late 2014 and May 2015. His illicit activities extended beyond street corners, as he operated out of 41 Houghton Street, selling drugs to a variety of customers, including an undercover police officer.
But the most heinous act in Johnson’s plea was his admission that on December 14, 2014, he mistakenly killed Terrell Taylor. Believing Taylor to be a rival gang member, Johnson gunned him down on Brinkman Avenue and Rohe Street. The crime was a brutal prelude to the justice system now seeking retribution for the innocent life lost.
The guilty plea comes after an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department, which were both led with determination by Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert and Commissioner Byron Lockwood respectively. Now, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a fine of $5,000,000.
Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for September 19th, where Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. will mete out the justice that Taylor’s family has been waiting to see. The plea marks another victory for law enforcement in their relentless battle against organized crime and its deadly consequences on the streets of Buffalo.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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