(WNY News Now) – BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal jury has found a 45-year-old Lockport, NY, man guilty of Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy for his role in a home invasion in the Town of Tonawanda. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Rudroff, Paul E. Bonanno, and Nicholas T. Cooper, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on September 28, 2017, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Todd Laraba, 45, and another individual entered a Town of Tonawanda residence, and went to the family room where an elderly couple (victims) were watching television. Wearing black hooded sweatshirts, black pants, black gloves, and masks, one of the men stated, “This isn’t going to hurt, or take long. You won’t get hurt, just relax.” The men zip tied the victims’ hands and ankles and placed duct tape across their mouths and eyes. One of the men stayed with the victims while the other went to the attic of the residence, and stole a lockbox containing $60,000 in cash. After the men left, the victims removed the duct tape and restraints and called 911. The Town of Tonawanda Police Department responded and recovered four black zip ties, four pieces of glossy duct tape, and other items. Subsequent testing established that Laraba’s DNA was on one set of zip ties and several pieces of duct tape.
The verdict is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 30, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial.
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