Buffalo man convicted of double murder in 2004 robbery attempt

A Buffalo man convicted of a double homicide that occurred during an attempted robbery in 2004 has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced.

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara imposed the sentence on Brandon Jonas, 39, charged with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

Prosecutors said Jonas, armed with an automatic rifle, and Seventh Street gang leader Efrain “Cheko” Hidalgo, carrying a baseball bat, forced their way into a Niagara Street apartment on Nov. 11, 2004. , intending to steal drugs and money from Nelson Camacho. . 36 years old, and his brother Miguel, 25 years old. During the attempted robbery, the Camachos were shot and killed.

Another man, Josue Ortiz, served 10 years in prison for the murders based on a false confession. His conviction was overturned in 2015 after the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force reopened the murder investigation.

Hidalgo was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the murders committed in 2016. Ortiz was awarded $6.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages in 2022 by a U.S. District Court jury.