Buffalo Woman Sharee Bailey Charged as Felon with Gun Possession

Sharee Bailey, 28, of Buffalo, NY, is behind bars after being charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm — a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The arrest follows a federal criminal complaint unsealed this week, detailing a trail of digital boasts and physical evidence linking Bailey to illegal weapons.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Bish, between October 12, 2017, and March 5, 2020, Bailey flooded social media with images and videos showing her flashing what appear to be multiple semi-automatic handguns, revolvers, and rifles. These posts, investigators say, weren’t just for show — they were evidence of a pattern that led federal agents to her door.

On August 4, 2020, law enforcement raided a residence on Landon Street in Buffalo, executing a search warrant that uncovered a .22 caliber rifle, a spent .9mm shell casing, and a gun box for a .40 caliber pistol containing one magazine. A hole in the floor, consistent with gunfire, was found inside the apartment. Officers also seized various calibers of ammunition and two cell phones used to post incriminating content.

Bailey, who openly identified herself to officers as a member of the Riverdale Gang during questioning, made her initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy. She was ordered detained pending further proceedings, underscoring the seriousness of the charge and her potential flight risk.

The case stems from a 2012 conviction in Erie County Court, where Bailey pleaded guilty to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree. That felony conviction legally bars her from possessing any firearm — a prohibition she allegedly ignored for years while flaunting weapons online.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, and the Buffalo Police Department, led by Commissioner Byron Lockwood. Federal prosecutors stress that the charge is an accusation, and Bailey is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.