DA: Staten Island man faces prison time after pleading guilty to drug, weapons charges

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A New Springville man faces prison time and post-release supervision after pleading guilty to drug and weapons charges earlier this week, according to the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office.

Daniel Cisneros, 22, pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree on Thursday, and will be sentenced to five years in prison and five years of post-release supervision later this month, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said.

The charges brought against Cisneros date back to an Uber ride the defendant took on the night of Oct. 1, 2023, According to the district attorney, who said Cisneros fell asleep in the backseat of the vehicle shortly after 1 a.m.

It was while Cisneros was unconscious that the driver reportedly spotted what appeared to be an extended magazine in Cisneros’ waistband, prompting a call to 911, the DA’s office said.

A police officer then found a sleeping Cisneros on Oakville Street in Meiers Corners, as previously reported.

In opening the rear passenger door, officers found Cisneros with a loaded, fully automatic Glock pistol, as reported by McMahon. A further search uncovered “dozens of Oxycodone pills and $1,000 in cash,” authorities said.

“A poison peddler carrying a loaded, illegal, and dangerous firearm, Daniel Cisneros posed a threat to our community and, thanks to our partners in the NYPD and the driver for quickly alerting law enforcement, he will spend a half decade in prison,” McMahon said. “Our gratitude is extended to Assistant District Attorney Andrew Edvin, who handled this case in our Narcotics-Investigations Bureau and was able to hold this defendant fully accountable for his crimes.”