Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 33-year-old Benjamin Jones of Amherst pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) and two counts of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class “C” felonies).  

New York State Police began an investigation after reviewing a video that was posted on social media of the defendant in possession of an illegal loaded firearm. On October 20, 2021, at approximately 1:50 p.m., Troopers initiated a traffic stop on Oxford Avenue in the Town of Amherst with a warrant to search the defendant’s vehicle. A loaded illegal pistol was found inside of the vehicle underneath the front passenger seat.

Shortly after the defendant was arrested, State Police went to the defendant’s residence on Allenhurst Road in the Town of Amherst. When the defendant’s girlfriend opened the door to State Police, the investigators saw a quantity of cocaine and cash in plain view on the living room table. Troopers conducted a search of the home and found a locked safe in a bedroom that contained an additional two ounces of cocaine and cash.

Jones faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second felony offender on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. He continues to be released on $25,000 bail posted at his arraignment.  

DA Flynn commends the New York State Police and Erie County Crime Analysis Center for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief John P. Gerken, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit.