Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 39-year-old Raymond Gonzalez has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Penny M. Wolfgang to ten years in prison and five years post-release supervision for the death of a 1-year-old boy. 

After a week-long non-jury trial conducted by Homicide Bureau Chief Colleen Curtin Gable in August, Justice Wolfgang found Gonzalez guilty of Manslaughter in the First Degree for engaging in conduct that caused the death of his girlfriend’s infant son, James Velazquez. 

On May 2, 2010 at 534 Busti Avenue, Buffalo, Velazquez suffered severe head trauma. The baby later died of his injuries.   

Acting DA Flaherty commends the thorough and persistent investigative work of BPD Homicide Detectives Christopher Sterlace, Reggie Minor and Scott Malec, retired Detective James Lema and retired Detective, now DA Investigator Salvatore Valvo.