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A Kenmore, N.Y., man has been sentenced to six years of probation after pleading guilty to two charges related to guns purchased in Warren County.
Alexander E. Jones, 34, was sentenced recently by Judge Todd Woodin in the Court of Common Pleas after he and Julia Rose Carter, also of the Buffalo area, pleaded guilty in September to one count of conspiracy - loans on, or lending, giving firearms prohibited and conspiracy - statement under penalty. Jones was sentenced to five years of probation, with credit for 128 days, to satisfy the plea to conspiracy – materially false written statement and one year of probation to satisfy the plea to conspiracy – statement under penalty. He was also sentenced to pay a $5,000 fine.
Jones was initially charged in April with six counts of third-degree felony selling or transfer of firearm - false written statement while Carter charged with 12 counts of third-degree felony materially false written statement – purchase, delivery, transfer of firearm; 12 counts of loans on, or lending, giving firearms prohibited; and 12 counts of statement under penalty. Jones was also charged with six counts of loans on, or lending, giving firearms prohibited and six counts of misdemeanor statement under penalty while Carter faced 12 counts of loans on, or lending, giving firearms prohibited and 12 counts of misdemeanor statement under penalty.
Several of the charges against both Jones and Carter were changed, and none of the felony charges were prosecuted.
State law prohibits lending or transferring firearms unless the recipient is licensed to carry a firearm, the recipient is exempt from needing a license, the exchange takes place within a sanctioned firearms training program or NRA-approved competition, the firearm is given to a minor under close supervision by a responsible adult over the age of 21 who isn't prohibited from having firearms, the recipient is lawfully hunting or trapping, the firearm is given inside one's home and stays in that location.
The maximum penalty for first-degree misdemeanor conspiracy loans on, or lending, giving firearms prohibited is up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. They also each plead guilty to one count of third-degree misdemeanor conspiracy - statement under penalty, a charge that is punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500, plus a mandatory minimum fine of at least $1,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, according to online court docket information.
Carter and Jones were charged after a domestic incident in February led Warren police officers to get the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms involved in what was allegedly a series of straw purchases of firearms from two Warren businesses. Warren police began the investigation after a verbal domestic incident on Feb. 18, between Carter and Jones. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by police, Carter allegedly told police Jones was threatening her because she was unwilling to purchase another firearm for him. When police questioned Carter, she said she had already purchased five firearms for Jones at Dunham's Sports and Tall Tales Sporting Goods in Warren. There is allegedly video evidence of two of the purchases at Dunham's Sports.
"Carter also stated that Jones transported the firearms to Rochester and Buffalo, New York, and sold them," the Affidavit of Probable Cause states. "Officers did view a money transaction from Jones to Carter on Jones's cellular device that stated Dunham's. It should be noted, body camera footage was obtained from the officer who handled this incident."
The case was referred to a Pennsylvania State Trooper who is a sworn task force officer for the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives based in Erie. The trooper said in March, he obtained required state and federal paperwork that had been completed by Carter for firearms purchases from March 18, 2025, through Feb. 28, 2026 - after Warren police were made aware of the prior five purchases in Warren County.
"Shortly after the domestic disturbance, it was discovered Carter purchased an additional firearm on February 28, 2026, after she was advised by law enforcement that (what) she was doing was against the law and considered 'straw' purchasing," the affidavit states.