Buffalo drug dealer confesses to murder of man he thought had betrayed him

BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — A Buffalo drug dealer faces life in prison after being convicted of shooting a man he believed turned him into a cop.

On July 1, 2019, 35-year-old Gregory Hay (who also went by the names Gunner, Franklin Gambino and Reggie) and his co-defendant Alphonso Payne lured Joshua Jalovick to a home on Freund Avenue. Investigators say Payne fired 11 shots at Jalovick, hitting him multiple times. Hay then stood over Jalovick's body and shot him five times. The medical examiner's report states Jalovick died from more than 15 gunshot wounds.

According to prosecutors, Hay wanted Jalovick dead because he believed Jalovick had provided authorities with information that would have led to a search of his home and his arrest.

According to federal authorities, Hay, Payne and others worked together to sell cocaine, marijuana and heroin between 2016 and 2019. They started in Salamanca and eventually moved their operations to Olean.

In April 2017, Hays' car was stopped by Buffalo police, and in May 2017, he was stopped by Salamanca police. Officers seized marijuana, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and a digital scale. Two years later, investigators searched Hays' home and seized two firearms, several magazines, ammunition, a digital scale, cash, and several cell phones.

Hays' conspiracy to sell drugs continued until his arrest in 2019.

Hay pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic drugs, possession of a weapon in furtherance of drug trafficking, discharge of a firearm causing death in furtherance of crimes of violence, and a drug trafficking offense. These charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine. Hay will be sentenced on December 10.

Charges are still pending against Payne.