Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 23-year-old Abdi Kadir of Buffalo was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes on a ten-count indictment charging him with the following offenses:

• Nine counts of Robbery in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony)
• One count of Burglary in the First Degree (Class “C” violent felony)

It is alleged that over the course of five days, the defendant forcibly stole money and personal property from victims as they were working at different hotels throughout Erie County. The defendant is also accused of forcibly stealing cash from a clerk who was working at a store on Buffalo’s West Side. The defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a gun during the commission of these crimes.

It is alleged that on May 11, 2021, at approximately 5:25 a.m., the defendant forcibly stole an unknown amount of cash from the register of hotel on Transit Road in the Town of Lancaster after he displayed what appeared to be a black pistol at the clerk.

A short time after the initial crime, the defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a black pistol at another clerk at nearby hotel on Transit Road in the Town of Lancaster. The defendant is accused of forcibly stealing approximately $100 in cash from the register and $642.87 from the safe.  

It is alleged that on May 15, 2021, at approximately 11:50 p.m., the defendant forcibly stole approximately $400 in cash after displaying what appeared to be a black pistol at the clerk of a hotel on Flint Road in the Town of Amherst.

It is alleged that on May 17, 2021, at approximately 4:40 a.m., the defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a gun at a clerk who was working at a hotel on Millersport Highway in the Town of Amherst. The defendant is accused of forcibly stealing approximately $250 from the register, a safe, and the victim’s purse. 

During the alleged crime, a security guard, who was sitting inside her vehicle in the parking lot, allegedly saw the defendant exit the hotel while pushing the safe on a rolling chair toward a vehicle. The security guard attempted to intervene by attempting to block the suspect vehicle with her own vehicle. The defendant allegedly approached the driver side of the vehicle while pointing what appeared to be a pistol at the security guard. The defendant is accused of forcibly stealing the security guard’s gun, as he pointed his weapon at her head, before fleeing the scene.

It is alleged that on May 19, 2021, at approximately 5:03 a.m., the defendant displayed what appeared to be a gun at the clerk and forcibly stole approximately $400 in cash from the register of a hotel on Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda.

It is alleged that later the same day, at approximately 6:46 p.m., the defendant displayed what appeared to be a gun at a clerk and forcibly stole approximately $280 in cash from the register of a wine store on Rhode Island Street in the City of Buffalo.

It is further alleged that on May 19, 2021, at approximately 7:45 p.m., the defendant displayed what appeared to be a gun at the owner and forcibly stole an unknown amount of cash from the register of a different hotel located on Sheridan Drive in the Town of Tonawanda. The defendant is also accused of forcibly entering the victim’s residence where he forcibly stole a cell phone and the victim’s purse. The victim called police after the defendant fled.

Town of Tonawanda Police officers located the defendant a short time after receiving the 911 call. The defendant was subsequently arrested in connection with the two robberies that occurred in the Town of Tonawanda.

Kadir was initially arraigned in Tonawanda Town Court on robbery and menacing charges on May 20, 2021. He has remained in custody without bail for a parole violation.

Kadir is scheduled to return on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. for further proceedings. He was remanded without bail.

If convicted of all charges, Kadir faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, Amherst Police Department, Lancaster Police Department and Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rebecca L. Schnirel of the Major Crimes Unit and Assistant District Attorney Ryan M. Flaherty of the Training and Community Prosecution Unit.

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