Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 47-year-old Vivian Rodriguez of Cheektowaga has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to 9 years state prison and 5 years post-release supervision.

On September 6, 2018, at approximately 6 a.m., the defendant attempted to cause the death of her boyfriend while acting in concert with another person. The defendant allowed a co-conspirator to enter her boyfriend’s 10^th Street home in the City of Buffalo. That individual attempted to murder the victim with a machete.  The victim, who was asleep, awoke during the struggle, and subsequently killed the attacker in self-defense.

In an attempt to eliminate any video evidence of the crime, the defendant removed the victim’s security camera from the home and placed it inside her vehicle.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “B” felony, and to one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class “E” felony, in February 2019. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in the indictment against her.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work by the Buffalo Police, including Detective Chris Sterlace and Officer Maurice Foster.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr. of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.