Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 19 year-old Darquane McDuffie of Buffalo pleaded guilty as charged to an indictment charging him with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. This is the highest charge for which McDuffie could have been convicted had he gone to trial. 

On March 31, 2013, while travelling on Sweet St. in the City of Buffalo, McDuffie jumped out of a vehicle that was being driven in an erratic manner and fled on foot from the police. While in pursuit, Officer Adam O’Shei saw McDuffie wielding the pistol, which McDuffie threw away in the vicinity of 161 Stanislaus. The pistol was recovered and found to be loaded with eleven 9mm rounds, including one in the chamber. No stranger to law enforcement, McDuffie, despite his young age, has previously been arrested for handgun possession (2010) and narcotics possession (2011).

The case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Paul J. Glascott of DA Sedita’s Felony Trial Bureau.  McDuffie faces a minimum of 3½ years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison when he is sentenced on February 25, 2014 before Judge DiTullio.