A Town of Tonawanda man faces life in prison after killing a man with a machete in 2023.
Adalberto J. Bermudez, Jr., also known as “Chopa,” 48, of Town of Tonawanda, was sentenced Wednesday before Erie County Court Judge Suzanne Maxwell Barnes. He received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
On the morning of Sept. 23, 2023, Buffalo Police officers responded to Isabelle Street where they found the victim, 39-year-old Jose Barreto-Gonzalez, dead inside of his second-floor apartment. Investigators determined that the Bermudez repeatedly struck the victim with a machete.
In late April, a jury found Bermudez guilty of one count of second-degree murder (Class A-I felony). Jurors rendered their decision after approximately six hours of deliberation following a six-day trial, convicting the Bermudez of the sole count of the indictment.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended Detective Scott Malec, Detective Mark White, Detective Carl Lundin (Retired) and members of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Justin T. Wallens of the Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Anthony F. Perna of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau with the assistance of Deputy District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge, III.