Buffalo Man Charged with Gun Possession
A 34-year-old Buffalo man has been arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Earl Stone, of Buffalo, NY, was taken into custody on April 12, 2026, after a traffic stop on the Route 33 Expressway.
According to the complaint, Buffalo Police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle and detected the smell of alcohol on the driver. The driver and passengers, including Stone, were asked to step out of the vehicle for a field sobriety test. During the stop, officers noticed what appeared to be the outline of a firearm by Stone’s pant leg. A loaded .40 caliber firearm fell out of his pant leg as he stood up at the request of officers.
Stone was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon- 2nd Degree: Loaded Firearm and Criminal Possession of a Weapon-3rd Degree: Large Capacity Feeding Device. In December 2013, Stone was convicted of a felony in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Craig Macy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
Stone made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was held pending a detention hearing on April 21, 2026. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and Stone is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Defendant: Earl Stone
Criminal Charges: Criminal Possession of a Weapon- 2nd Degree: Loaded Firearm and Criminal Possession of a Weapon-3rd Degree: Large Capacity Feeding Device
City and State: Buffalo, NY
Date: April 12, 2026
Sentence: Held pending a detention hearing on April 21, 2026
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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