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Press Release

Jamaican Man Sentenced for Witness Tampering

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York
 

BUFFALO, N.Y.--U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Junior Nathanial Ricketts, a native of Jamaica, who was convicted of tampering with a witness in order to prevent the witness from testifying against him at trial, was sentenced to time served (three years, 11 months) by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

“As has been said many times before, law enforcement does not tolerate any attempt to subvert the criminal justice system,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.

Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryEllen Kresse, who handled the case, stated that in July 2010, Ricketts, who was facing trial on other federal charges, sent a letter to a witness who was scheduled to testify at his trial. In the letter, the defendant accused the witness of lying about the witness’ identity. Ricketts also threatened that if the witness testified against him in court, the defendant would make sure the witness and the witness’ family went to jail.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of Officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations under the direction of Field Office Director Michael T. Phillips.
Updated November 21, 2014