Buffalo Woman Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Evelyn Roberson, 61, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara, to obstruction of justice. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen A. Lynch and Maura K. O’Donnell, who are handling the case, stated that the defendant knowingly concealed tangible objects—including a check; a money order; cash; and credit, 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.

The plea 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.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2013, at 1:00 a.m. before Judge Arcara.