CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
ROCHESTER, N.Y. —U. S. Lawyer Trini E. Ross introduced at this time that america Court docket of Appeals for the Second Circuit has affirmed the conviction and sentence of Richard Leon Wilbern.
On November 8, 2019, following a five-week trial, a federal jury convicted Wilbern of the August 12, 2003, armed theft of the Xerox Federal Credit score Union, which resulted within the demise of Raymond Batzel. On September 22, 2020, Wilbern was sentenced to serve life in jail by U.S. District Choose Charles J. Siragusa, who presided over the trial of the case.
On August 12, 2003, Wilbern walked into Xerox Federal Credit score Union, positioned on the Xerox Company campus in Webster, NY, and instructed an worker that he was there to conduct a safety evaluation and to “stage” a theft. Wilbern then shot buyer Raymond Batzel within the neck which resulted in his demise. A second buyer, Joseph Doud, was shot and wounded as he tried to run outdoors after witnessing the taking pictures. Wilbern subsequently fled the credit score union with a bag of cash however left behind an umbrella.
In March 2016, with a suspect nonetheless not in custody, a press convention was held searching for new leads within the investigation. Particulars of the crime had been launched in addition to images of Wilbern committing the theft. On March 27, 2016, a involved citizen contacted the FBI and indicated that the one that dedicated the crime was probably a former Xerox worker named Richard Wilbern, an worker who labored for Xerox previous to the theft however had been fired. In July 2016, FBI brokers met with Wilbern relating to a grievance he had made to the FBI relating to an alleged actual property rip-off. Throughout considered one of their conferences, brokers obtained a DNA pattern from Wilbern after he licked and sealed an envelope. That DNA was in comparison with DNA taken from the umbrella left behind by the suspect the day of the theft and was decided to be a optimistic match.
In his attraction, Wilbern raised DNA, counsel, juror, and witness points however his arguments had been rejected, and the decision and sentence had been affirmed.
On attraction, the federal government was represented by Assistant U.S. Lawyer Katherine A. Gregory.
The Xerox investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Webster Police Division, the New York State Police, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Division, the Rochester Police Division, and america Marshals Service. Extra help was supplied by the Monroe County District Lawyer’s Workplace. The prosecution was dealt with by Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas E. Gregory and Joel L. Violanti.
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