Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Drugs That Were Smuggled Into The Attica Correctional Facility

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Jerome Tallington, 28, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to narcotics conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant sold heroin and marijuana to Elizabeth Camue Martinez. Between September 2013 and December 2013, Martinez then smuggled gram quantities of heroin and ounces of marijuana into the Attica Correctional Facility and provided it to her husband, Andres Martinez, who was at that time incarcerated in the facility, knowing that he would then distribute the heroin and marijuana to other inmates. 

Elizabeth Camue Martinez and her husband Andres Martinez have also been convicted and are awaiting sentencing.
 
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Office, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Steven Nigrelli, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Major Wayne C. Olson, the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard, the Wyoming Country District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Donald O’Geen, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Commissioner Anthony Annucci. 

Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.