Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that another four defendants have been convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Violent Felony, punishable by mandatory incarceration in state prison. All of the following defendants were prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and none of them received a so-called “plea bargain.”

23 year-old Elmarious Honeycutt of 75 Girard Place in the City of Buffalo pleaded guilty as charged to Criminal Possession of Weapon in the 2^nd Degree before Acting State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski. On April 6, 2014 and in response to a 911 call reporting a car full of men threatening others with a gun, Buffalo police officers located the vehicle and found Honeycutt in possession of an unlicensed Sturm Ruger semi-automatic pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.  Honeycutt faces a minimum of 3½ years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison when sentenced on September 17, 2014 by Justice Michalski. 

The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian D. Langenfeld who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau. 

27 year-old Christian Fulgham of 69 East Parade St. in the City of Buffalo also pleaded guilty as charged to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree before Justice Michalski. On April 18, 2014 and in response to frantic 911 calls of a man trying to break into a residence, Buffalo Police Officer James Hacker seized Fulgham on the front porch of the residence, while Officer Mark Andrezjak discovered a loaded semiautomatic 9mm pistol stuffed into the porch mailbox.  DNA analysis of the gun later confirmed the gun was handled by Fulgham, who did not have a license for it. Shockingly, Fulgham was on parole in connection with another weapon’s possession conviction when he was arrested. As a second felony offender, Fulgham faces a minimum of 7 years and a maximum of 15 years when sentenced on July 30, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. by Justice Michalski.

Fulgham’s case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin T. Wallens, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau.

21 year-old Darrell Cheek of 489 E. Utica St. in the City of Buffalo pleaded guilty as charged to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree before Senior Erie County Court Judge Michael D’Amico. On

September 25, 2013, and acting on a tip, Buffalo Police Officers John Beyer and Kelvin Sharpe found Cheek outside the Anchor Bar and in illegal possession of a Bryco Jennings Model 25 semi-automatic pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition. Cheek faces a minimum of 3½ years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison when sentenced by Judge D’Amico on August 27, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.

The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jaharr S. Pridgen, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau.

20 year-old Oshay Gordon of Buffalo also pleaded guilty as charged to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, before Judge D’Amico.  On May 14, 2014, and in response to an attempted robbery call, Buffalo Police Officers Keith Fitzner, Amanda Rivers and Andrew Whiteford stopped the defendant’s van and seized a loaded, sawed-off shotgun from him.  Gordon faces a minimum of 3½ years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison when sentenced by Judge D’Amico on July 25, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.

The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Mansour, who is assigned to DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau.

DA Sedita stated: “The Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees a citizen’s right to bear arms and that cherished right is scrupulously honored when a citizen lawfully possesses a firearm. However, when someone possesses a loaded handgun without a license to do so, or possesses a sawed-off shotgun, that is a serious crime and this office views it as such. But for exceptional circumstances, this office does not offer a plea bargain in such cases; instead, we routinely prosecute gun-toting thugs to the fullest extent of the law.”