Buffalo Man Casidus Carr Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession

Buffalo resident Casidus Carr, 31, stood before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara this week and admitted to possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon—a crime that could land him behind bars for up to a decade. The guilty plea marks the latest chapter in a federal case rooted in a January 2015 search that uncovered a loaded gun at Carr’s Dunlop Avenue home.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed the plea, which carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Carr’s admission stems from evidence gathered during a lawful search warrant executed by federal and county authorities. At the time, law enforcement discovered not only the loaded weapon but also additional ammunition, sealing the defendant’s fate under federal gun laws.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is prosecuting the case, emphasized that Carr was legally barred from owning or handling any firearm due to a 2005 New York State conviction for Manslaughter in the First Degree. That violent felony conviction automatically stripped him of Second Amendment rights—making his possession of the gun a federal offense, not just a local violation.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, under Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen, alongside investigators from the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, directed by Sheriff Timothy Howard. Their joint operation targeted known offenders with access to illegal weapons, a recurring problem in high-crime urban zones like parts of Buffalo.

No plea deal details have been disclosed, and Carr remains in custody pending sentencing. The case underscores the federal government’s aggressive stance on repeat offenders wielding firearms, particularly those with violent pasts. Prosecutors often push for maximum penalties in such cases to deter others in the criminal underworld from carrying guns.

Sentencing is set for March 8, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara. With a prior murder conviction and a loaded weapon recovered from his residence, Carr now faces the full weight of federal sentencing guidelines. The outcome could serve as a stark reminder: in the eyes of the law, a felon with a gun is a threat the justice system won’t tolerate.