Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 41-year-old Al-Shariyfa Robinson of 16 Geneva Street in Buffalo has been found guilty of two counts of Murder in the 2nd Degree and one count of Arson in the 2nd Degree during a jury trial before State Supreme Court Justice Penny M. Wolfgang.

The panel deliberated an hour and ten minutes before returning the verdict.

On October 10, 2015, Al-Shariyfa Robinson set fire to a rooming house located at 392 Curtiss Street in Buffalo where her former boyfriend lived. The fire caused the death of 64-year old James Hodges and 58-year old Edward Hughes.

Robinson faces a maximum of 50 years to life in prison when she is sentenced January 4, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.

Acting DA Flaherty offers his sympathies and condolences to the victim’s families and praises the thorough and professional investigation conducted by the Buffalo Fire Marshals.

“It was their hard work that led to this just result,” says acting DA Flaherty.

Buffalo Fire Marshals Sean McKinnie, Paul Simonian, Edward Hughes (no relation to the victim) and Buffalo Police Homicide Detective Louis Cardona put in countless hours on the case.

“I also congratulate my prosecutors, Paul J. Glascott, Chief of the Felony Trial Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Cathleen M. Roemer for their presentation of the evidence to the jury which returned a just and proper verdict,” says acting DA Flaherty.