Buffalo Woman Sentenced for Obstruction of Justice

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Evelyn Roberson, 61, of Buffalo, New York, who was convicted of obstruction of justice, was sentenced to 10 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen A. Lynch and Maura K. O’Donnell, who handled the case, stated that the defendant knowingly concealed tangible objects, including a check, a money order, cash and credit, and debit and bank cards with the intent to obstruct and impede a criminal investigation. In connection with an ongoing criminal investigation of the defendant’s son, law enforcement agents learned that Roberson obtained evidentiary items from her son’s house and from his associates. Agents secured a search warrant for the defendant’s residence, seeking those items. When agents attempted to execute the search warrant, the defendant concealed the items in her clothing and also removed items from the house by hiding them on her person.

“As most of the public already knows, it is not just the original crime that can lead to prosecution—it is also the cover-up,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul “As we continue to work with the public and law enforcement to rid our communities of crime, let those who knowingly assist criminals now also be on notice that they are not immune from prosecution.”

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge, Christopher M. Piehota, and the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tracy Gast.