Buffalo Ledger

James Reed, also known as Fatts, a 42-year-old resident of Buffalo, NY, has been sentenced to 166 months in prison. This decision was announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross and handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Reed was convicted on charges including narcotics conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct justice, use of fire to commit a felony, and accessory after the fact.

The case was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler, Maeve E. Huggins, and Joseph M. Tripi. According to their statements, Reed's involvement in illegal activities began in 2014 when he and others started distributing marijuana, heroin, and cocaine from a location at 973 Fillmore Avenue.

On September 15, 2019, Reed accompanied co-defendant Jariel Cobb to purchase cocaine from suppliers Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colon and Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred at a residence on Roebling Avenue. During this transaction, co-defendant Deandre Wilson assaulted Roman-Audiffred before fatally shooting Valentin-Colon and his wife Nicole Marie Merced-Plaud in front of their minor son.

Reed and Cobb later moved Roman-Audiffred's body into the basement of the residence where they dismembered it before disposing of the remains in a fire pit on Box Avenue.

The following day saw further actions from Cobb and Wilson as they retrieved the minivan containing the bodies of Valentin-Colon and Merced-Plaud along with their child from Scajaquada Street. They set the vehicle ablaze on Tonawanda Street after leaving the child on a stranger’s porch.

Both James Cobb and Deandre Wilson have already been convicted for their roles in these crimes; Cobb received a 20-year sentence while Wilson faces three life sentences.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations within the United States through coordinated efforts among various agencies.

The investigation involved multiple law enforcement bodies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation led by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; Buffalo Police Department under Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; Erie County Sheriff’s Office directed by Sheriff John Garcia; Erie County Central Police Services Forensic Laboratory overseen by Commissioner James Jancewicz; with additional support from Erie County District Attorney’s Office headed by District Attorney Michael Keane.