Jose G. Figueroa, former Puerto Rican drug gang hitman, today was ordered to serve a prison

term of 18 years to life for fatally shooting 17-year-old Alex Martinez in a street dispute 12

years ago.

Long a suspect in the Jan. 29, 1998, killing of Martinez, Figueroa was credited by State

Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller with admitting guilt late last year because of his

return to religion.

But the judge faulted Figueroa for making his victim's now-12-year-old son grow up without

a father.

The relatives of the victim were in court for the mid-morning sentencing but declined to

comment afterward.

Though prosecutor James F. Bargnesi credited the Buffalo Police Cold Case Squad with

keeping up the pressure that finally prompted Figueroa to surrender last November and plead

guilty, defense Barry S. Dolgoff disputed that claim.

Dolgoff, stressing that the news media falsely reported last fall that Figueroa claimed to

be the pastor of a Buffalo church, insisted that Figueroa initiated his confession after he

regained his religious faith last year.

Bargnesi said Figueroa had been sent here from Puerto Rico to stage a "drug-related vicious

execution" of Martinez. But neither prosecutor nor police would say why Martinez had been

targeted by a drug gang.

Figueroa did not speak during today's sentencing.