Teen Who Vandalized His Own Car with Racist Slurs Going to Prison

A Buffalo teen has been sentenced to prison for possessing illegal guns and vandalizing his own car with racial slurs. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that the 19-year-old was sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on Monday, November 1, 2021. He will serve between 1 1/3 to 4 years behind bars in a state prison.

On October 24, 2020, officers with the Buffalo Police Department saw the teen leave his vehicle unattended with the engine running, as he entered a home on Erskine Avenue. He then got back into his vehicle, which was stopped by the officers near Suffolk Street. Officers discovered that he was driving without a license. He also had two loaded illegal guns on him.

Prior to that incident, on October 15, 2020, the teen vandalized his own vehicle with racist and other hateful slurs. He also poured sugar into his SUV's gas tank with the goal of damaging the vehicle. He then filed a fraudulent claim with his insurance company, hoping to collect a payout.

On September 3, 2021, The teen pleaded guilty to one count of Insurance Fraud, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Both charges are felonies.

I remember the news coverage of the alleged hate crime. People were really upset, especially since there was high racial and political tension in Western New York and the United States. It's sad that he took advantage of that just to try to get paid by his insurance provider.