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United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay
Date: 06-20-2025
Case Number:
Judge:
Court: The United States District Court for the Western District of New York
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Buffalo, New York
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
Buffalo, New York criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to murder a federal informant, murdering a federal informant, conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine
Buffalo man convicted by a federal jury of murdering a federal informant
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U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury has found Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay, 29, of Buffalo, NY, guilty of conspiracy to murder a federal informant, murdering a federal informant, conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine, possessing with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine, conspiring to retaliate against a federal informant, retaliating against a federal informant, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence and a drug trafficking crime, and discharge of a firearm causing death in furtherance of crimes of violence and a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch, Michael J. Adler, and Stacey Jacovetti, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that between approximately 2016 and August 20, 2019, Payne, co-defendant Gregory Hay and others conspired to sell cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. The conspiracy began with Hay selling drugs in the Salamanca, NY, area, before moving his operation to the Olean area, where Payne assisted him with selling drugs. After Gregory Hay's house was searched on May 7, 2019, by members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Buffalo Police Department, and illegal firearms were seized, Hay and Payne suspected Joshua Jalovick was a police informant. In the early evening of July 1, 2019, Payne and Hay lured Jalovick into the backyard of 87 Freund, where Payne used to live. Once Jalovick was in the backyard, Payne shot him multiple times with a semi-automatic pistol, in front of multiple witnesses. Hay then stood over Jalovick and shot him an additional five times with a revolver. Payne and Hay murdered Joshua Jalovick to prevent him from testifying about their alleged drug trafficking crimes and Hay's firearm crimes.
Gregory Hay was previously convicted of narcotics conspiracy, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and discharge of firearm causing death in furtherance of crimes of violence and a drug trafficking crime and is awaiting sentencing. In addition to defendants Payne and Hay, defendants Daeshawn Stevenson, Raejah Blackwell, Eric Brooks, and Roland Eady were also convicted for their roles in obstructing a grand jury's investigation into Joshua Jalovick's murder.
The verdict is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonso Wright. Additional assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Charles Perras, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler.
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay?
The outcome was:
Which court heard United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Western District of New York, NY.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Buffalo, New York. Defendant's attorney: .
When was United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay decided?
This case was decided on June 20, 2025.
Buffalo, New York criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to murder a federal informant, murdering a federal informant, conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine
Buffalo man convicted by a federal jury of murdering a federal informant
Sponsored By
MoreLaw Downtown Tulsa Office Suites
624 South Denver, Suite 300
One Block South of the Courthouse
Free Internet Marketing
Broadband Internet Access & Answering Service
Full-Time Receptionist - 24/7 Access
Virtual Offices Starting at $50 a month.
Physical Offices Starting at $300 a month.
Month-to-Month
Multiple Private Conference Rooms - Hourly & Daily Rental
Reduce Your Overhead with MoreLaw Suites
918-582-3993 - Info@MoreLaw.com
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury has found Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay, 29, of Buffalo, NY, guilty of conspiracy to murder a federal informant, murdering a federal informant, conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine, possessing with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine, conspiring to retaliate against a federal informant, retaliating against a federal informant, discharge of a firearm in furtherance of crimes of violence and a drug trafficking crime, and discharge of a firearm causing death in furtherance of crimes of violence and a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch, Michael J. Adler, and Stacey Jacovetti, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that between approximately 2016 and August 20, 2019, Payne, co-defendant Gregory Hay and others conspired to sell cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. The conspiracy began with Hay selling drugs in the Salamanca, NY, area, before moving his operation to the Olean area, where Payne assisted him with selling drugs. After Gregory Hay's house was searched on May 7, 2019, by members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Buffalo Police Department, and illegal firearms were seized, Hay and Payne suspected Joshua Jalovick was a police informant. In the early evening of July 1, 2019, Payne and Hay lured Jalovick into the backyard of 87 Freund, where Payne used to live. Once Jalovick was in the backyard, Payne shot him multiple times with a semi-automatic pistol, in front of multiple witnesses. Hay then stood over Jalovick and shot him an additional five times with a revolver. Payne and Hay murdered Joshua Jalovick to prevent him from testifying about their alleged drug trafficking crimes and Hay's firearm crimes.
Gregory Hay was previously convicted of narcotics conspiracy, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and discharge of firearm causing death in furtherance of crimes of violence and a drug trafficking crime and is awaiting sentencing. In addition to defendants Payne and Hay, defendants Daeshawn Stevenson, Raejah Blackwell, Eric Brooks, and Roland Eady were also convicted for their roles in obstructing a grand jury's investigation into Joshua Jalovick's murder.
The verdict is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alphonso Wright. Additional assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Charles Perras, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler.
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay?
The outcome was:
Which court heard United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Western District of New York, NY.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for Buffalo, New York. Defendant's attorney: .
When was United States of America v. Alphonso Payne, a/k/a Ajay decided?
This case was decided on June 20, 2025.