Department of justice

United States Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.

Western District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Barbara Burns

JULY 23, 2021 PHONE: (716) 843-5817
www.usdoj.gov/usao/nyw FAX #: (716) 551-3051

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U.S. ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF

FIRST 2 WEEKS OF FEDERAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION
AND ELIMINATION RESPONSE (VIPER) TASK FORCE

BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today the results
of the first two weeks of the Federal Violence Prevention and Elimination Response
(VIPER) Task Force, a 60-day surge aimed at removing violent gun offenders from the
streets of Rochester and Buffalo to enhance public safety and reduce violent crime. For
the period between July 7 and July 22, 2021, the following combined results were achieved
in Rochester and Buffalo through VIPER:

• Total Arrests – 138

o Firearm Related Arrests - 45
o Narcotics Related Arrests - 45
o Violent Felony Arrests - 38
• Total Illegal Firearms Seized - 22
• Defendants Adopted for Federal Prosecution - 15 (with 21 additional
defendants currently under review for federal prosecution).
“All residents in both Rochester and Buffalo deserve, and are entitled, to feel safe
in their own homes,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Our efforts are designed to remove
the worst of the worst from the streets of our communities, and the guns from their hands,
so that residents can do just that. The tremendous coordination between federal, state, and
local law enforcement combined with the outstanding cooperation we have received from
the community have combined thus far to produce some pretty remarkable results.”
 Representative Investigations and Federal Prosecutions in both Rochester and
Buffalo:

Among the cases charged federal in Rochester, NY, was Raquon Lewis, 24, of
Rochester, NY, who was charged by criminal complaint with two separate incidents of
being a felon-in-possession of a firearm. According to the criminal complaint, on June 24,
2021, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Rochester Police Officers responded to a call for
multiple “shots fired” in the area of the North Union Street/Lays Alley/Weld Street. Prior
to the call, numerous civilians were congregating in the area for the funeral
procession/celebration of life for 26-year-old Lavar Beard, who was murdered there two
days earlier. Given heightened tensions surrounding the murder, several Rochester Police
officers were already assigned to the area to monitor the gathering and personally heard
multiple gunshots being fired. The eruption in gunfire resulted in at least one person being
struck with non-life threatening injuries. At least two firearms were recovered at the scene,
as well as numerous casings.

Immediately prior to these gunshots, defendant Lewis was observed, via city blue
light cameras, standing with others in front of “Awsan Grocery,” located at the intersection
of North Union and Weld Streets, facing east. Another male walked up behind Lewis and
pointed a gun point-blank at Lewis’ head. As a result, everyone in the area, including
Lewis, fled the area in all directions. Lewis was observed running behind the store and
west bound on Weld Street to his vehicle. As Lewis was running, he collided with several
other individuals who were involved in the melee, causing him to fall to the ground near
the rear of his car. As he fell, Lewis dropped a 9mm semiautomatic pistol loaded with 18
rounds of ammunition.

On July 16, 2021, a search warrant was executed at Lewis’ residence on Travers
Circle in Rochester. During the search, investigators found a loaded 9mm pistol in a couch
where Lewis had been sitting. Investigators also recovered approximately $2,395 in cash
on Lewis’ person. In addition, quantities of crack cocaine, cocaine, and three electronic
scales were also recovered. In 2013, Lewis was convicted of Attempted Criminal
Possession of a Weapon in New York State Court and is legally prohibited from possessing
a firearm.

In Buffalo, Michael Johnson, 43, of Buffalo, NY, was charged by criminal

complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in
furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the criminal complaint, On July 21, 2021, investigators from the Erie County
Sheriff’s Office and Buffalo Police Intelligence Unit set up surveillance in the vicinity of
the defendant’s Rogers Avenue residence and observed Johnson carrying a blue shopping
bag out of the residence and entering the front passenger seat of a vehicle bearing Ohio
plates. Law enforcement executed a traffic stop and Johnson initially provided a false
name. Johnson was ordered out of the vehicle but refused and struggled with law
enforcement. While law enforcement attempted to remove the defendant, officers observed
the blue shopping bag inside the vehcile. During a search of the vehicle, investigators
recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from inside the blue shopping bag, approximately 28
grams of suspected fentanyl, ammunition, unidentified pills, and a digital scale.
Investigators then executed a search warrant at Johnson’s Rogers Avenue residence and
recovered a revolver, ammunition, and a digital scale. In March 2008, Johnson was
convicted in Albany County Court of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance
in the 3rd Degree, and as a result is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The VIPER Task Force involves enhanced information sharing, enhanced proactive
investigations and prosecutions, and the improvement relations between the community
and law enforcement.

Members of the VIPER Task Force include the United States Attorney’s Office,
under the direction U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito,
New York Field Division; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of
Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the United States Marshals Service, under the
direction of Marshal Charles Salina; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction
of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under
the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division. VIPER
Task Force members in Rochester also include: the Monroe County District Attorney’s
Office, under the direction of District Attorney Sandra Doorley; the Monroe County
Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; and the Rochester Police
Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan. VIPER Task Force
members in Buffalo also include: the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the
direction of District Attorney John Flynn; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the
direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the
direction of Chief Byron Lockwood.

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