Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that two individuals are facing various felony charges following an investigation into a shooting that allegedly uncovered a large quantity of cocaine.

On Monday, September 28, 2020, 25-year-old Alexis Rivera of Buffalo was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Diane Wray on the following charges:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Class “A-I” felony
• Two counts of Forgery in the Second Degree, Class “D” felonies
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, Class “A” misdemeanor
• One count of Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, Class “B” misdemeanor

On Sunday, October 4, 2020, 51-year-old Kevin T. Biggs of East Aurora, a retired Buffalo Police detective and former East Aurora Village trustee, was arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon M. Heneghan on the following charges:

• One count of Criminal Trespass in the First Degree, Class “D” felony
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, Class “D” felony
• One count of Criminal Impersonation in the First Degree, Class “E” felony
• One count of Possession of Burglar Tools, Class “A” misdemeanor

It is alleged that on September 7, 2020, at approximately 10:24 p.m., defendant Rivera was shot at by an unknown person on Wyoming Avenue. He spent several days at ECMC. When Buffalo Police officers responded to the scene to investigate, the defendant’s vehicle was impounded as evidence. Buffalo Police obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and allegedly found approximately 13 ounces of cocaine inside the car.

It is alleged that on September 25, 2020, at approximately 1:32 p.m., defendant Biggs, while wearing police attire and falsely presenting himself as an officer, went to the Buffalo Police Department impound lot on Dart Street to obtain the vehicle that was driven by defendant Rivera. Defendant Biggs allegedly provided forged police documents to personnel in an attempt to acquire the vehicle.

It is further alleged that defendant Biggs, entered the Buffalo Police garage on Seneca Street on three different occasions (September 14, September 25 and September 28) when he did not have permission to be on the property. He was allegedly in possession of bolt cutters during one occasion at the police garage.

It is also alleged that after defendant Biggs left the police impound lot on September 28, defendant Rivera went to the police garage with the same falsified police paperwork in an attempt to obtain the impounded vehicle.

Rivera was released on $75,000 bail posted in Buffalo City Court. Biggs was released on his own recognizance due to the charges being non-qualifying offenses for bail.

Biggs is scheduled to return on December 3, 2020 for a felony hearing. A return court date for Rivera has not been scheduled at this time.

DA Flynn commends Detective Christopher Schafer and the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Chief John Feroleto of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.

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