“He spent thousands of dollars on drugs and party and play sessions that destroyed lives and bred insidious addictions.” Attorney Chelsea Norell said in a court filing. “Buck used his money and privilege to exploit the wealth and power imbalances between himself and his victims, who were unhoused, destitute, and/or struggling with addiction,” Assistant U.S. “Their deaths were tragic, but I did not cause their deaths,” Buck said.
Buck’s attorneys said any sentence of more than 25 years would essentially mean a life sentence because he is 67.īuck told the judge on Thursday that he had loved the men and said he wished he could have turned back time but insisted he was not responsible. Prosecutors asked for a life sentence, saying that they couldn’t take the risk that Buck might be released and that he has shown he is capable of re-offending.īut Buck’s defense attorneys sought a decade behind bars - below the federal sentencing guidelines - saying he was sexually abused as a child and health problems led to his drug addiction.įederal prosecutors said Buck’s unrelenting fervor to satisfy a fetish by preying on vulnerable men, often young and Black, is reason enough to keep him behind bars for the rest of his life.
