Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Transfer
Benjamin Martin, 21, admitted to transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident as part of a conspiracy to illegally sell guns.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Financial Crime
Benjamin Martin, 21, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident. The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Why it matters
The plea highlights a multi-person conspiracy to sell firearms without licenses, including ghost guns, in the Buffalo area. Federal prosecutors are pursuing these cases to curb unlicensed firearm sales.
Martin pleaded guilty and faces a maximum sentence of five years, with sentencing scheduled for March 4, 2027, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Co-conspirators Humphrey, Turner, and Baine were previously convicted and await sentencing, while charges against Jylin Woods remain pending.
The players
Lawrence J. Vilardo
Lawrence J. Vilardo is a U.S. District Judge presiding over the case and scheduled to sentence Martin.
The details
Martin admitted he and others conspired to illegally sell firearms from March 2023 through June 2025. In one November 2023 transaction in Amherst, he and Humphrey sold a handgun to a buyer for $600, and afterward messaged the buyer about additional firearms, including a ghost gun and a revolver.
Timeline
March 2023: Conspiracy to illegally sell firearms begins.
November 10, 2023: Handgun sold in Amherst for $600.
June 23, 2025: Conspiracy period ends.
March 4, 2027: Sentencing scheduled before Judge Vilardo.
Legal Context
Federal law requires licensing for those who regularly sell firearms, and prosecutors use these statutes to target unlicensed transfers. Cases involving ghost guns, which lack serial numbers, reflect growing federal focus on untraceable weapons.
Residents of Buffalo and surrounding areas are affected by illegal firearm sales that can move weapons into the hands of people who cannot legally own them. Federal enforcement of unlicensed sales aims to reduce these transfers in local communities.
The takeaway
Unlicensed firearm sales, including ghost guns, are being prosecuted as federal crimes, and buyers and sellers alike can face serious penalties. Anyone with information about illegal gun sales can contact federal law enforcement.
What happens next
Sentencing for Benjamin Martin is scheduled for March 4, 2027, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Financial Crime reporting in Buffalo.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The United States Department of Justice.
