BUFFALO, N.Y. – Wilbert Hayes Jr., 53, of Niagara Falls, is facing federal time after a jury found him guilty of possessing a firearm despite a lengthy rap sheet. The conviction follows a five-day trial that laid bare the evidence collected during a 2014 raid on his Niagara Falls residence.
On August 15, 2014, Niagara Falls Police, executing a search warrant at 1318 Walnut Avenue, discovered a shotgun belonging to Hayes in the upper apartment. The weapon wasn’t stashed away; it was found in a child’s bedroom, a chilling detail highlighting the reckless disregard for safety. The search also yielded a quantity of marijuana and packaging materials hidden inside a fish tank in the dining room, adding another layer to the mess.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Astorga and Joseph M. Tripi successfully argued that Hayes’ prior criminal history disqualifies him from legally owning a firearm. Records show Hayes has three prior state felony convictions, making this latest offense a clear violation of federal law. He wasn’t just holding a gun; he was illegally possessing one, period.
The bust was the result of a joint investigation by the Niagara Falls Police Department, led by Chief Bryan DalPorto, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict. The feds and local PD worked together to build a solid case, and the jury delivered.
Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced the verdict today, signaling a continued crackdown on illegal gun possession in Western New York. Hayes now awaits sentencing, scheduled for August 18, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial. Expect a significant sentence; felons with guns don’t get a pass.
While the marijuana found during the search wasn’t the primary focus of the trial, it remains a matter of record. Sources within the Niagara Falls PD suggest further investigation into Hayes’ alleged drug activity is possible following the conclusion of the firearm case. This conviction, however, is a clear message: possessing a firearm while a convicted felon carries serious consequences.
RELATED: Niagara Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine, Gun Charges
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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