Pair receives prison sentence for home invasion robbery

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane, on Friday, announced Christian Palamara, 24, of Buffalo was sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to eight years in prison. His co-defendant, Terrance D. Hennegan, 24, of Buffalo, received a determinate sentence of 10 years in prison as a second violent felony offender.

On the evening of Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, the defendants, while acting in concert with one another, drove to a residence on Manitoba Street in the City of Buffalo with the intent to commit a burglary. The defendants unlawfully entered the home, while armed with what appeared to be black pistols, and forcibly stole approximately $3,000 cash from the victims.

Two illegal weapons, matching the description of the guns used in the home invasion robbery, were recovered during the execution of a search warrant at the defendants’ residence on Fredro Street in the City of Buffalo. Heneghan was under parole supervision and wearing a GPS ankle monitor, which further corroborated the evidence connecting him to the crime. Additionally, the suspect vehicle was captured on a doorbell camera, which matched the vehicle owned by a family member of Palamara.

Hennegan and Palamara pleaded guilty to one count of robbery in the first degree and one count of burglary in the first degree (class “B” violent felonies) on Aug. 29. Both defendants pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charges in full satisfaction of the indictment.

Keane commends Det. Lauren McDermott and Lt. Jonathan Pietrzak of the Buffalo Police Department, as well as the Erie County crime analysis center, for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Frank A. Strano of the major crimes bureau.