DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of New York

For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 10, 2016
William J. Hochul, Jr.
, United States Attorney
Contact: Barbara Burns

Rounds Crew Gang Member Sentenced for Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Murder

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Demario Stewart, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of racketeering conspiracy involving murder and drug dealing, was sentenced to 216 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The defendant is a member of the “Rounds Crew” led by Johnny Rounds.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti and Wei Xiang, members of the Rounds Crew committed numerous acts of violence and narcotics trafficking on the East Side of Buffalo encompassing Broadway and several intersecting streets. Members of the gang guarded that territory and resorted to acts of violence to insure that no rival gang members or other individuals encroached upon their territory for any reason, including selling or distributing drugs.

 Stewart was sentenced for his involvement in the July 10, 2009 murder of Brandon Haugabook on the corner of Paderewski and Townsend Streets in Buffalo.

 Acts of violence by the Rounds Crew included the murders of two others who did not have any affiliation with gang activity, and the attempted murders of several others:

 The August 12, 2009 murder of Larry Crosland on William Street in Buffalo;

 The August 13, 2009 murder of Shawn Kozma on Reed Street in Buffalo. Kozma’s body was found burned a day later on August 14, 2009 in a vacant field on William Street;  
Several attempted murders and shootings of rival gang members.

 In addition to committing the murders and attempted murder, the Rounds Crew engaged in narcotics trafficking offenses in their territory which included Reed, Detroit, Townsend, and Coit Streets in Buffalo. 

 Eight members of the Rounds crew have been convicted in this case including leader Johnny Rounds who is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. 

 The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

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New York Field Division