Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Laotis Green of Buffalo has been sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to a determinate sentence of 8 years in prison. He was sentenced today as a second violent felony offender.

On April 12, 2018, at approximately 9:35 p.m., the defendant was the passenger of a vehicle that was pulled over on William and Thomas Streets in the City of Buffalo. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana when he approached the vehicle, which prompted a search. Green ran from the scene and was not apprehended by police. The search uncovered more than four ounces of cocaine in the center console, which was linked to the defendant through DNA analysis.

On April 28, 2018, at approximately 3:15 a.m., Buffalo Police were responding to a 911 call when they approached a vehicle parked on Johnson Street. The defendant, who was wanted on a warrant, was sitting in the front passenger seat. Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded pistol underneath the front passenger seat. The weapon was linked to the defendant through DNA analysis.

Green pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a Class “A-II” felony, and one count of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class “D” violent felony. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in one of the indictments against him on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department and the New York State Police for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank A. Strano of the DA’s Narcotics Unit.