Rolik Walker, Making an Interstate Threat, New York 2022

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A Buffalo man is accused of using Twitter to threaten to kill African Americans at local grocery stores, announced U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross. Rolik Walker, 24, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with making an interstate threat. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, on May 16, 2022, just two days after the racially motivated shooting at the Tops grocery store on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, Walker created a Twitter account with the handle @ConklinHero. The defendant accused in the Tops shooting is from Conklin, NY. Walker then used the @ConklinHero account to post that he and his “associates” were targeting several grocery stores in the Buffalo area and were “only looking to kill blacks.”

Walker attempted to anonymize his creation of the Twitter account and the Twitter post by utilizing an application on his cell phone that masked his IP address. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia, conducted the investigation.

Walker made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on conditions. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The defendant’s Twitter account and the Twitter post in question are no longer active, but screenshots of the post have been obtained by authorities.

The investigation into Walker’s activities is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The FBI is working closely with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of the community.

Rolik Walker, 24, of Buffalo, NY, is charged with making an interstate threat. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, and the investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia.

If convicted, Walker could face a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch.

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