Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that the following defendants pleaded guilty as charged to illegally possessing handguns. Neither received so-called “plea bargains” and both were prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, guaranteeing mandatory state prison sentences.

25 year-old Donneer Wilson of 460 Best Street in the City of Buffalo pleaded guilty as charged to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree before Erie County Judge Thomas P. Franczyk. Wilson’s crimes stem from two separate incidents.

On March 29, 2012, Wilson possessed a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol which he attempted to discard as Buffalo police officers pulled over a vehicle he occupied. Wilson was indicted but released on his own recognizance by the court. Shockingly, he failed to appear for his trial and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

In another shocking co-incidence, Wilson was located in a drug house and found in possession of another loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol when finally found on April 25, 2014 by Buffalo police officers. As he was taken into custody, Wilson presciently inquired, “I know they have a warrant for me, it’s for that other gun they got me with. It’s a mandatory 3½ per gun, right?”

Wilson faces up to 30 years in state prison when sentenced on September 9, 2014 by Judge Franczyk. Wilson was successfully prosecuted by Ryan D. Haggerty, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Special Victims Bureau, and Paul J. Williams, III, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau.

36 year-old Derrick Wiggins of Campbell Street in the Town of Cheektowaga also pleaded guilty as charged to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. On January 11, 2014 at 3:00 am, Tillman unsuccessfully attempted to discard his loaded .45 caliber pistol as he was being chased, on foot, by Buffalo Police Chief Carmen Menza.

This is the third time Wiggins has been caught with a loaded handgun, which should not come as a complete surprise given his extensive criminal history since the age of sixteen. Wiggins’ record includes convictions for two felonies by the age of twenty-one, when he was sentenced to four-twelve years in state prison by Judge DiTullio. Wiggins’ failure to learn from his past experience will likely be compounded by his future prospects, as the judge who sentenced him then is the judge who will be sentencing him now. Wiggins’ faces up to fifteen more years in state prison when he is sentenced on September 16, 2014 by Judge DiTullio.

Wiggins was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael P. Felicetta, Chief of DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau.