Man Admits to Robbing 5 University at Buffalo Students in 2 Separate Incidents

Modified: March 26, 2013 10:41am

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3/1/2013

Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 23 year old Antoine Matthews of 324 Martha Avenue, Buffalo, pleaded guilty, to two counts of Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree.  The pleas come after a multi-agency investigation and prosecution led by ADA John Feroleto, a member of the Erie County District Attorney’s Office Tactical Prosecution Unit. 

Matthews pleaded guilty, as charged, to an indictment charging him with Attempted Robbery in the 2nd Degree, before State Supreme Court Justice Russell Buscaglia. This is the highest charge for which Matthews could have been convicted had he gone to trial. This conviction is in connection with attempted robbery of three University at Buffalo students which occurred on November 17, 2012 at 1:27 a.m. on Winspear Avenue in the City of Buffalo.  Matthews brandished what appeared to be a silver revolver to the students and demanded money. The students fled onto the University at Buffalo Campus and reported the incident to the NYS University Police.   Matthews was apprehended near the intersection of Bailey and Shirley with a silver toy revolver.  Matthews, pleaded guilty, as charged, to Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree before Supreme Court Judge Russell P. Buscaglia.  He faces a maximum prison sentence of 7 years with respect to this charge when he is sentenced on May 1, 2013.

Matthews became a suspect in another robbery of two female U.B. students which also occurred on November 17, 2012 at 1:00 a.m. on Winspear Avenue (about a half hour before the other robbery).  ADA Feroleto convinced the court to order that Matthews appear in a line-up in connection with this robbery and Matthews was identified in that line-up. Matthews admitted his participation in this crime and pleaded guilty to Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree.  He faces a maximum prison sentence of another 7 years with respect to this charge when he is sentenced on May 1, 2013.

Matthews, a convicted burglar and prior violent felon, had only been out of prison for two weeks at the time these crimes were committed.  He faces additional time in prison on a parole violation as a result of these convictions.