Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 33-year-old Benjamin Jones of Town of Amherst was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to 5 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. He was sentenced today as a second felony offender.

New York State Police began an investigation after reviewing a video posted on social media that showed the defendant in possession of an illegal firearm. On October 20, 2021, at approximately 1:50 p.m., State 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 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, 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 pleaded guilty 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) on March 21, 2022.

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/Intelligence Unit.