CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Kevin Hughes, 60, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to narcotics conspiracy. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Misha Coulson, who are handling the case, stated that Hughes assisted co-defendant Jun Martinez in his drug trafficking operation, receiving drug packages via mail at his residence, frequently driving Martinez in and around Jamestown for drug trafficking activities, assisting with retrieving money from customers, vacuum sealing the money, and subsequently mailing the money to the source of supply. In September 2020, during a trip out of New York State to acquire narcotics from a source of supply, an Illinois State Police Trooper stopped Hughes and Martinez around Frankfort, Illinois. A search of their vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 9,589 grams of methamphetamine, 3,157 grams of fentanyl, 2,241 grams of cocaine, and marijuana products.
Jun Martinez was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 1, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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