(WNY News Now) A felon who is not allowed to own a handgun was arrested after a navigation accident at the U.S.-Canada border turned up a firearm.
LEWISTON, N.Y. — After finding a firearm in a commercial vehicle, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials arrested a 62-year-old U.S. citizen at the Lewiston Bridge border crossing.
The driver mistook his GPS for the Canadian border while trying to deliver a commercial package to Michigan, but he did not have the required documentation to gain access. He returned to the United States after being rejected by Canadian officials, and during an initial screening, he admitted to possessing a handgun.
A Hi-Point C9 semi-automatic 9mm handgun and 40 rounds of ammo were found by CBP agents during a secondary examination. The driver, a native of Louisiana, was legally prohibited from owning firearms because of previous felony convictions, according to additional inquiry.
“As they screen travelers entering the United States, our CBP Officers remain vigilant,” stated Area Port Director Gaetano Cordone. We were able to apprehend this criminal and take a firearm off the streets because to the efforts of our State and Local partners.
After being arrested and processed by CBP, the driver was turned over to the New York State Police. He is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, a crime. The accused is deemed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, just like everyone else who is accused of a crime.