Buffalo Man Charged with Possessing Firearm

Buffalo Man Charged with Possessing Firearm

A Buffalo man has been indicted on a serious charge after being accused of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to federal authorities, Antonio Eldridge, 27, of Buffalo, NY, had a Winchester Model 69A .22 caliber rifle hidden under a mattress in a residence where he had previously been issued an order of protection to keep away from both the children and the residence.

U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced that the indictment charges Eldridge with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, on March 11, 2016, the Buffalo Police Department received information that the defendant, a convicted felon, had displayed a firearm to children. During this investigation, officers located Eldridge hiding in a basement crawl space of the children’s residence.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation into the case was a joint effort between the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Field Division.

Contact information for more information on this case is available through Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or (716) 551-3051.