(WNY News Now)BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that Kevin Hughes, 64, of Jamestown, NY, was sentenced to time served, or roughly 17 months, for his involvement in a drug conspiracy. The punishment was imposed by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Hughes helped co-defendant Jun Martinez with cocaine trafficking, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. Hughes collected money from clients, vacuum-sealed and delivered drug earnings to suppliers, received drug shipments at his home, and drove Martinez around Jamestown for drug-related activities.
While traveling to obtain drugs in September 2020, Hughes and Martinez were stopped by an Illinois State Police Trooper close to Frankfort, Illinois. Approximately 9,589 grams of methamphetamine, 3,157 grams of fentanyl, 2,241 grams of cocaine, and marijuana products were found during a search of their car.
Martinez had a prior conviction.
The investigation was a part of an operation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which uses a multi-agency strategy to target high-level criminal organizations. The investigation was carried out by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Field Division, under Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, which was headed by Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson.