Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 25-year-old Nicky Lofton of Buffalo pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to one count of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony).

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, at approximately 2:06 a.m., a Buffalo Police Department detective, who was investigating a shooting on Pearl Street, saw the defendant running in an alleyway near the scene of the crime. The defendant refused multiple commands by officers to stop, but was taken into custody in a nearby parking lot. Detectives found an illegal, loaded “ghost gun” on his person.

Lofton faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. He remains released on $7,500 bond previously posted in Buffalo City Court.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department Intelligence Unit and Special Operations Unit for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Brown of the Felony Trials Bureau.