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.

Standing in front of the Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse in Buffalo, (From L-R): Peggy Morgan, Jennifer Champ, James C. Johnson, Deb Pacos, Carol Drake, Tom Loftus, John Barrett, Father Moritz Fuchs, Honorable Joseph Gerace, Doug Neckers, John Anderson, Randy Sweeney, Greg Peterson (Photo courtesy of Jackson Center)

BUFFALO – A Chautauqua County country lawyer who ascended all the way to a seat on the Supreme Court has received would could be his most important recognition to date.

On Monday, more than 200 guests – including representatives of the federal and local governments, courts and legal community – gathered for the formal naming of the Robert H. Jackson Federal Courthouse in Buffalo.  The facility was named in honor of the Supreme Court Justice and U.S. Chief Prosecutor at Nuremberg who was raised in Frewsburg and got his start practicing law her in Jamestown.

The Honorable William M. Skretny, Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of New York, presided at the ceremony, as The Honorable Richard J. Arcara welcomed the attendees.

According to Greg Peterson, Jackson Center co-founder, the effort to name the courthouse for Jackson had its beginning in March 2008, with an editorial comment in the Buffalo News that suggested the new federal courthouse be named for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

Peterson thanked several supporters, including former State Assemblyman Rolland Kidder, former Lieutenant Governor Stan Lundine, Jackson scholar John Q. Barrett and Congressman Brian Higgins – who each helped to ensure the courthouse would be named in honor of Jackson.

The United States Courthouse in Buffalo will officially be named in honor of Justice Robert H. Jackson late this morning.  During today’s ceremony, several special members the Western New York community and from across the state will gather in the Queen city to honor Jackson, including Senator Charles Schumer (Tentative), Congressman Brian Higgins (tentative), U.S. District Chief Judge William Skretny, Julia Craighill (Granddaughter of Robert H. Jackson) and Jamestown’s Greg Peterson – Co-Founder of the Robert H. Jackson Center.

Jackson was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania but moved with his Family to Frewsburg when he was a child. There he attended Frewsburg High School and later went on to study and practice law in Jamestown. He eventually went on to become Solicitor General of the United States and Supreme Court Justice, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He also served as the chief prosecutor of the Nuremberg War Crimes trial following World War II.

First introduced by Congressman Brian Higgins last fall, the bill passed the House of Representatives in July. Chief Judge William Skretny gave his endorsement, referring to Jackson as “the most distinguished jurist and most acclaimed legal mind to come out of the Western District.”

The bill subsequently received support from Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who championed the bill before the senate.