BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Johnny Rounds, Donald Rounds, Ricky Proctor, Lorenzo Hunt, and Demario Stewart, all of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy involving murder and drug dealing before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The defendants are all members of the “Rounds Crew” led by Johnny Rounds who also pleaded guilty to operating a continuing criminal enterprise.

“Today’s convictions mark an important step in ridding Buffalo of violent gang members and drug dealers,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “Over the past several years, our Office has used federal law to target these predators, and we will continue to do so until each and every one is behind bars. And while we have previously warned gang members to leave their criminal associates, our message today is that it is now too late and your days are numbered.”

When sentenced, Johnny Rounds faces up to 300 months in prison, Donald Rounds, Lorenzo Hunt, and Demario Stewart each face 216 months and Ricky Proctor faces 240 months in prison.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti and Wei Xiang, who are handling the case, between 2004 and June 2010, the defendants, as members of the Rounds Crew, committed numerous acts of violence and narcotics trafficking on the East Side of Buffalo encompassing Broadway and several intersecting streets. Members of the gang guarded that territory and resorted to acts of violence to insure that no rival gang members or other individuals encroached upon their territory for any reason, including selling or distributing drugs.

Acts of violence included the murders of three people who did not have any affiliation with gang activity, and the attempted murders of several others:

• The July 10, 2009 murder of Brandon Haugabook, on the corner of Paderewski and Townsend Streets in Buffalo;
• The August 12, 2009 murder of Larry Crosland on William Street in Buffalo;
• The August 13, 2009 murder of Shawn Kozma on Reed Street in Buffalo. Kozma’s body was found burned a day later on August 14, 2009 in a vacant field on William Street;
• Several attempted murders and shootings of rival gang members.

In addition to committing the murders and attempted murder, the Rounds Crew engaged in narcotics trafficking offenses in their territory which included Reed, Detroit, Townsend, and Coit Streets in Buffalo.

The defendants were charged along with three other Rounds Crew members. All eight have been convicted.

The pleas are the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for:

• Johnny Rounds—March 30, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
• Donald Rounds—March 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
• Lorenzo Hunt—March 11, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
• Demario Stewart—March 10, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
• Ricky Proctor—March 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.