In a Brooklyn federal court, Cory Martin, a Queens man, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the calculated murder and dismemberment of a woman, his scheme rooted in financial greed. U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly imposed the sentence after a jury convicted Martin of various charges, including murder-for-hire, wire fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. The details of the sentencing come via an official statement from the United State Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York.
United States Attorney Breon Peace described the crime as "ghastly, cold-blooded" and emphasized Martin's exploitation of the victim, Brandy Odom, for monetary gain. Martin was found to have trafficked Odom for commercial sex before murdering her to benefit from $200,000 in life insurance proceeds. "The defendant believed he could thwart law enforcement and cover up this heinous crime," Peace said in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's office. The sentencing aims to offer closure to the victim's family and ensure Martin cannot harm others.
The investigation into the chilling crime was conducted by the FBI’s Metro Safe Streets Task Force and the NYPD. Martin's encounter with justice reflects a collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement. Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office, James E. Dennehy, spoke on the matter, condemning Martin's "grisly actions" and confirming the FBI's low tolerance for such crimes. "May today’s sentencing offer Brandy’s family some justice," Dennehy told the U.S. Attorney's office.
At the time of the murder, Martin resided with Odom and an accomplice in Rosedale, Queens, both of whom engaged in commercial sex work for him. The conviction came after the revelation of Martin's heinous planning, which included watching true-crime TV shows to learn how to avoid police detection. Martin and his accomplice were confirmed to have fraudulently obtained two life insurance policies in Odom's name and made attempts to claim the benefits after her murder. Thomas G. Donlon, the NYPD's Interim Commissioner, applauded the persistent work of the NYPD investigators whose efforts were central to Martin's capture and conviction.
Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Emily J. Dean, and Andy Palacio, with Paralegal Specialist Theodore Rader, managed the government's case for the Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Martin received multiple sentences, including a concurrent 20 years for wire fraud conspiracy and an additional two for aggravated identity theft.