Jamestownman Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Tyrell Fuqua-Hayes, 38, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty to making false statements and representations to the FBI before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that in January 2015, Hayes alleged that he met a man who was arrested in another federal case while they were in custody together at the same jail.  The defendant claimed that the man provided him with contact information and advised Hayes that he would be reaching out to him.

In May 2015, Hayes advised the Federal Bureau of Investigation that he was receiving text messages from the man he met in jail indicating that the man wanted to pay the defendant $5000 to kill witnesses in that man’s case. The defendant later admitted he created the text messages himself and that lied about the recent conversations between the man and himself.   

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force which includes the Rochester Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff’s office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 16, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Geraci.