Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 27year-old Jamell Chapman of Niagara Falls has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia to 24 years in prison plus five years post-release supervision.  

On July 17, 2016, Chapman and two other defendants were involved in the robbery and beating death of 79-year-old Upender Bawa, owner of the Taste of Life restaurant, in his apartment above the business on Sycamore Street in Buffalo.

Chapman pleaded to Manslaughter in the First Degree in March 2018.

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of the Buffalo Police Homicide Squad, including Detective Sgt. Carl Lundin and Detectives Joy Jermain, Patricia Wrest, James Kaska and Brendan Kiefer.

John Patrick Feroleto, Chief of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Ashley Morgan of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.