Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi has rendered a verdict in the case against 32-year-old Marlon Johnson of Buffalo, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment against him.

Today, Judge Bargnesi found the defendant guilty of three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felonies) after the conclusion of a bench trial that was presented over the course of three non-consecutive days.

The investigation began when the Buffalo Police Department received information that the defendant, who was on federal probation for a prior offense, was in possession of a gun. On July 25, 2019, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence on Phyllis Avenue where investigators found three loaded, illegal firearms inside a safe on the second floor of the home. The defendant was linked to all three weapons through DNA analysis.   

Johnson faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second violent felony offender on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. He continues to remain held without bail.

DA Flynn commends Detective Anthony Fanara and Officer Michael Redmond of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation.

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