BUFFALO, N.Y. – A Buffalo man is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to a brazen attack on a federal agent outside the FBI’s Buffalo Division office. Tyler Collins, 27, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to one count of assaulting a federal officer and causing bodily injury. The incident, which unfolded last July, highlights the increasing hostility directed towards law enforcement.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Franz M. Wright and Douglas A. C. Penrose, the trouble began around 4:00 p.m. on July 12, 2022. Collins attempted to force his way into the FBI building, but was stopped by security. Undeterred, he began screaming obscenities into the intercom and violently banging on the door, demanding entry. Three federal agents were approaching the building at the time and witnessed the disturbance.
As one agent attempted to de-escalate the situation, Collins launched a direct attack, punching the agent in the face. The agent sustained injuries as a result of the assault. A second agent responded by deploying pepper spray in an attempt to subdue Collins, but the suspect managed to flee the scene, running onto Elmwood Avenue. It wasn’t long before Buffalo Police, working in conjunction with the FBI, tracked Collins down on Delaware Avenue later that evening.
The investigation, led by Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Darren Cox of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, quickly established Collins as the perpetrator. While details surrounding Collins’s motives remain scarce, the incident underscores the dangers faced by federal agents on a daily basis. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, headed by Trini E. Ross, is prosecuting the case.
Collins now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for June 7, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Skretny. The Grimy Times will be in the courtroom to provide live updates. This is just another reminder that even those tasked with upholding the law are not immune to violence on the streets of Buffalo.
Contact: Barbara Burns, (716) 843-5817, FAX: (716) 551-3051
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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