Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 29-year-old Syaf Ismael of Buffalo has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to 1 to 3 years in prison.

On October 17, 2018, at approximately 3:51 a.m., the defendant sent text messages to his estranged wife after appearing for a Family Court matter. The defendant texted the victim multiple times, claiming that he was going to kill her. The victim contacted the police and the defendant was arrested later that day. A no-contact order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim.

The defendant posted bail and was out of custody for only a few hours when, on October 19, 2018, at approximately 6:35 a.m., he began texting the victim. The victim immediately contacted the police and the defendant was arrested again.

A jury found Ismael guilty, as charged, of one count of Aggravated Harassment, a Class “A” misdemeanor, and one count of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, a Class “E” felony. The jury rendered their verdict after an hour of deliberations following a four-day trial on Monday, September 23, 2019.

Justice Haendiges issued a final no-contact order of protection on behalf of the victim.

“The prosecution of offenders in domestic violence cases are a top priority of mine, and I want the public to know that any case that involves the direct threat and intimidation of a victim or a witness will be aggressively prosecuted,” said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn. “I hope that the victim in this case feels justice has been served by this defendant being convicted of his crimes and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. I also expect that this defendant will now abide by the no-contact order of protection.”

DA Flynn commends Detective Jeff Banes of the Buffalo Police Department and Officer Marshal McGraw of the Orchard Park Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy J. Garvin of the DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Noha A. Elnakib of the DA’s  Felony Trials Bureau.