A federal jury has found Alphonso Payne, also known as Ajay, guilty of multiple charges including the murder of a federal informant. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the verdict in Buffalo, New York. The charges against Payne include conspiracy to murder a federal informant, drug-related offenses involving cocaine distribution, and firearm-related crimes linked to violence and drug trafficking. These charges come with a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch, Michael J. Adler, and Stacey Jacovetti. They stated that between 2016 and August 20, 2019, Payne conspired with co-defendant Gregory Hay and others to sell drugs such as cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin in areas around Salamanca and Olean in New York.
Following a search of Gregory Hay’s house on May 7, 2019—conducted by members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with the Buffalo Police Department—Hay suspected Joshua Jalovick was an informant for law enforcement. On July 1, 2019, Payne and Hay lured Jalovick into a backyard where he was fatally shot by both men.
Gregory Hay has already been convicted on related charges including narcotics conspiracy and firearm offenses causing death but is awaiting sentencing. Additional defendants Daeshawn Stevenson, Raejah Blackwell, Eric Brooks, and Roland Eady were also convicted for obstructing the grand jury investigation into Jalovick’s murder.
The investigation leading to these convictions involved several law enforcement agencies: the ATF led by Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller; the Buffalo Police Department under Commissioner Alphonso Wright; assistance from the FBI under Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm; U.S. Secret Service led by Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Charles Perras; and support from the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Eric Butler.
Sentencing for Alphonso Payne is set for October 27, 2025 before U.S District Judge Richard J. Arcara who oversaw the trial.
