Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BUFFALO, N.Y.-Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Christian O. Dalmau, 31, of Bronx, NY, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.  The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that on the night of January 5, 2014, Dalmau was the sole passenger in a GMC Yukon vehicle that was being driven by another individual when the Yukon was stopped by Buffalo Police officers in the vicinity of Bailey Avenue and Cloverdale Avenues. The Yukon contained a hydraulic hidden compartment or “trap” in its cargo area. Inside the trap was a Taurus, 9mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition.

Also inside the trap in the Yukon were three foil packets that each contained eight oxycodone pills, pills which were consistent in appearance with other oxycodone pills Dalmau left in the backseat of the Buffalo Police car in which he had been placed.  Dalmau admitted to being addicted to the pills.

In the plea agreement, the government reserved the right to attempt to establish at sentencing Dalmau’s suspected involvement in connection with a shooting homicide that happened on Newfield Street shortly before the January 5th stop. Dalmau reserved the right to contest the government’s position.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict, New York Field Division, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction Chief Daniel Derenda, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 26, 2017, before Judge Arcara.