Members, Associates of the Bailey Boys and LRGP Gangs Face Murder and Attempted Murder Charges in Superseding Indictments

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned two superseding indictments in the ongoing investigations into the Bailey Boys and LRGP, violent criminal gangs operating on Buffalo’s East Side.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony M. Bruce, who is handling the Bailey Boys case, a third superseding indictment charges Bailey Boys member Tyriq Brown, 20, of Buffalo, with the shooting and wounding of a rival gang member on July 29, 2011, on Kensington Avenue. It also charges Bailey Boys members Rayshod Washington and Raymel Weeder with the February 9, 2012 murder of Fred Rozier. According to the indictment, the murder involved a drug ripoff that went bad. Washington is also charged with racketeering for the January, 27 2012 robbery of an individual.

Based on this latest superseding indictment, members and associates of the Bailey Boys, who operate in an area of the city bounded by Winspear Avenue, the Kensington Expressway, Eggert Road, and Main Street, now stand accused of three murders; six shootings, including four drive-by shootings; a robbery that involved the shooting of a victim who survived; and a shooting that occurred during a neighborhood party with numerous children present. To date, two defendants have been convicted.

A superseding indictment involving the LRGP Gang charges three additional members and associates with racketeering stemming from their participation in the illegal activities of the street gang on Buffalo’s East Side. The illegal activities included cocaine trafficking and conspiracy to murder of rival gang members. Furthermore, 10 previously charged defendants are facing additional charges.

Defendants Gregory Scott, Fred Keys and Ranole Goodwin are each charged with racketeering. Previously charged with cocaine trafficking in July 2012, Dewayne Gray, John Evans, Alexis Mills, Philip Brown, John Hayward, Demario Devon Nance, Kiara McNamee, Erika Gray, Timothy Finch, and Dayshawn Brazier are also charged with racketeering. The racketeering charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $10,000,000 fine, or both. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCabe, who is handling the case, LRGP is named after Lombard, Rother, Gibson, and Playter Streets. Defendant Dewayne Gray was the leader of the LRGP organization from 2009 until early 2012 and oversaw the sale of crack cocaine by various LRG-P members from gang-controlled residences on Memorial Drive, Sobieski Street, and Meyers Street in Buffalo. In April 2011, LRGP members also conspired to kill a rival gang member, Amir Chambers, who was shot and killed on April 21, 2011, on Mills Street in Buffalo. To date, three defendants have been convicted.

“This is yet another example of the office’s commitment to prosecuting the most violent and dangerous criminals operating in Buffalo,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Today’s developments add to the over 140 gang members we’ve charged to date, individuals responsible for numerous murders, attempted murders, and other acts of violence in our neighborhoods. And the community should know that these efforts will only continue.”

“Our gang investigations continue to clear cold case homicides that may not have been solved otherwise,” said Christopher M. Piehota, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo FBI Office. “Not only do we arrest gang members, but we can provide the victims’ family members with some amount of closure. The FBI recognizes the need to stay involved with our community partners after we remove gang members from their neighborhoods.”

The superseding indictments are the result of an ongoing investigation on the part of the United States Attorney’s Office in close cooperation with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III; the Homicide Bureau of the Buffalo Police Department; under the command of Captain Michael McCarthy and Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under the Direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M. Piehota; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy B. Howard; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell; New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Frank Christiano; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings.

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.