Buffalo man pleads guilty to selling drugs that led to an overdose death

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Justin Hall, 33, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey N. Jacovetti, who is handling the case, stated that on April 18, 2022, Sweat sold cocaine to a regular customer identified as V.O. On April 20, 2022, law enforcement officers and emergency personnel arrived at V.O.’s residence and determined that V.O. was deceased. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be acute mixed drug intoxication, to include cocaine, fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and tramadol. Subsequently, on May 19 and May 26, 2022, investigators made two controlled purchases of cocaine from Sweat.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.  

Sentencing is scheduled for October 18, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.

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