Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn was joined by Captain Jeffrey Rinaldo of the Buffalo Police Department to announce the arrests of three individuals who have been charged for their alleged involvement in armed robberies that have occurred on Buffalo’s East Side over the past two weeks.

Anthony Cole, 22, of Buffalo was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Betty Calvo-Torres on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. He has been charged with one count of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class “B” felony, one count to Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class “C” felony, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class “A” misdemeanor.

It is alleged that on Monday, October 28, 2019, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the defendant and two adolescent offenders approached a married couple as they were taking their children out of their vehicle on Theodore Street in the City of Buffalo. While armed with what appeared to be a gun, the suspects stole the victim’s purse.

Cole is scheduled to return on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. Judge Calvo-Torres set bail at $10,000. If convicted on all charges, Cole faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

A 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old male were also arrested for the crime. Both have been arraigned before Youth Part Judge Kevin Carter.

The same 16-year-old and another adolescent offender have been charged in a separate armed robbery that occurred on October 19, 2019 at approximately 9:30 p.m. The two defendants approached the victim in the vicinity of Humason Avenue and displayed what appeared to be a gun. One of the defendants struck the victim with the weapon, which fractured his jaw and orbital bone. The victim’s cell phone was stolen. This case is also pending before Youth Part Judge Carter.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations, including Detective Jay Reuther, Lt. Courtney Tripp, Officer Jake Giaranno and Officer Michael Schue.

Other reported robberies that appear to target the Muslim community in the area are being actively investigated by the Buffalo Police Department in conjunction with the Erie County District Attorney’s Office Community Prosecution Unit.

Anyone with information on these crimes can contact the Buffalo Police Department (716-847-2255) or the Erie County DA’s Office (716-858-2424).

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher Safulko of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Meredith Mohun of the DA’s Community Prosecution Unit.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.