Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 31-year-old Justice C. Coniglio of Buffalo was arraigned this morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon Heneghan on the following offenses:

• One count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony)
• One count of Driving While Intoxicated (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• One count of Driving While Ability Impaired (Class “A” misdemeanor)

It is alleged that on December 1, 2021, at approximately 11:15 p.m., the defendant was driving eastbound on Clinton Street, while under the influence of alcohol and a drug, when he rear-ended another vehicle that was stopped at the intersection of Babcock Street in the City of Buffalo. The force of the collision caused the victim’s vehicle to rear-end a second vehicle that was also stopped at the intersection. 

The driver of the vehicle that was initially hit was fatally injured in the crash. The victim, James Boyd, 47, of Pennsylvania, died at the scene. The driver of the second vehicle suffered minor injuries.

The defendant also suffered serious injuries in the crash. He was taken to ECMC where he was arraigned today by Judge Heneghan. He continues to remain hospitalized. 

Coniglio is scheduled to return on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was remanded without bail.

If convicted of all charges, Coniglio faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Accident Investigation Unit their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.

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