A federal jury has convicted Alphonso Payne, also known as Ajay, of Buffalo, New York, on multiple charges including the murder of a federal informant. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. Payne, 29, was found guilty of conspiracy to murder a federal informant, murder of a federal informant, and various drug-related offenses. These charges come with a mandatory minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch, Michael J. Adler, and Stacey Jacovetti prosecuted the case. They revealed that between 2016 and August 20, 2019, Payne collaborated with co-defendant Gregory Hay and others in drug trafficking activities involving cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. Initially operating in Salamanca, New York, Hay moved his operations to Olean with Payne’s assistance.
Following a search of Hay’s residence on May 7, 2019—conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Buffalo Police Department—illegal firearms were seized. Suspecting Joshua Jalovick as an informant for law enforcement agencies led to his murder on July 1, 2019. On that day, Payne and Hay lured Jalovick to the backyard of Payne’s former residence at 87 Freund Street where he was shot multiple times by both men.
Gregory Hay had already been convicted on related charges including narcotics conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Other defendants involved in obstructing the investigation into Jalovick’s murder include Daeshawn Stevenson, Raejah Blackwell, Eric Brooks, and Roland Eady.
The verdict follows an investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller from the New York Field Division. The Buffalo Police Department under Commissioner Alphonso Wright also contributed to the investigation along with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm; the U.S. Secret Service under Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Charles Perras; and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Eric Butler.
Sentencing for Payne is set for October 27, 2025 at 11:30 a.m., presided over by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara who oversaw the trial.
