Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 23-year-old Mario Jones of Buffalo was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to a determinate sentence of 7 years in prison followed by 3 years of post-release supervision. He was sentenced today as a second violent felony offender.

On January 1, 2021, at approximately 5:00 a.m., the defendant intentionally shot a male victim with an illegal gun at a gas station on East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue. The defendant dropped the weapon as he fled the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital where he was treated for an injury to his face. The firearm was recovered by police and tested for evidence.

On March 20, 2021, at approximately 12:48 a.m., Buffalo Police officers initiated a traffic stop for a vehicle that drove through a stop sign on Kehr and French Streets. As the driver pulled over on Urban Street, the defendant ran out of the vehicle. The defendant was taken into custody after a brief chase. Officers found a loaded, illegal pistol on the ground in the defendant’s flight path.  

Jones was initially charged and arraigned on the gun charge for the incident that occurred in March 2021. The defendant, who had prior felony convictions, was indicted on both cases after he was linked to the gun recovered in the initial case through DNA analysis.

Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” felonies) and one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony) on December 21, 2021. Today, he received a determinate sentence of 7 years on each count to run concurrent.  

DA Flynn commends Det. Nicole Krug, Det. Chris Schafer and Lt. Jon Pietrzak of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.  

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy J. Garvin of the Felony Trials Bureau and former Assistant District Attorney Brian D. Langenfeld.