BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced Wednesday that Jose Martinez, aka Noelle, 47, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted following a jury trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to life in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

“As the punishment in this case reflects, the defendant – convicted of narcotics trafficking – has been sentenced as a murderer,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.  “This Office will be relentless in utilizing all available federal tools to help ensure that those who pose a danger to our community are brought to justice.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas S. Duszkiewicz and Frank T. Pimentel, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that between 2007 and June 2008 the defendant ran a drug trafficking organization in Jamestown, NY. Martinez supplied cocaine to another drug trafficking organization in Jamestown led by Quentin Leeper.

In May 2008, Martinez put out a contract for the killing of an individual identified as Quincy Turner. The defendant believed that Turner was cooperating with law enforcement officers who were investigating the drug trafficking activities of Quentin Leeper. On May 30, 2008, Quincy Turner was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds inside his Mercedes SUV in the parking lot of his automotive garage adjacent to the Jamestown Airport.

A total of 45 defendants were charged in connection with three drug trafficking organizations operating between Jamestown and Rochester, NY. 40 defendants have been convicted, three were acquitted at trial and two others died, including Quincy Turner.

The sentencing 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 Division, Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant David Bentley, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Joseph Gerace, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings. Additional assistance was provided by the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

Local investigators had accused the four of conspiring to and carrying out a contract killing of Eagle Street resident Quincy Turner. The four men are  Jose “Noelle” Martinez, Angel Luis “Bate” Marcial, Felix J. “Lolo” Vasquez and Carlos A. Jorge “Nito” Canales. Last week a jury in Buffalo federal court found each of the four not guilty.

During the trial, federal prosecutors attempted to prove that the four were allegedly involved in drug trafficking and knew that Turner had become an informant against them. As a result, they took his live in May 2008. A defense attorney in the case said the four were found not guilty largely due to a lack of evidence or motive, connecting the men to the killing.

Martinez, who was accused of issuing the contract for the killing, was found guilty on a related drug charge.

Turner, who was 31 at the time of his death, left behind a fiancee and two sons.