By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Wednesday, January 7, Steven Martinez, 31, of Egg Harbor City, Shiraz Khan, 36, from Bergen County, and Deshawn Hose, 28, of Atlantic City, were sentenced in Superior Court for their involvement in a racketeering organization operating throughout Atlantic County between 2016 and 2020.
Each defendant previously entered a guilty plea before the court, with sentencing pending until all codefendants had resolved their cases, ACPO officials said.
These convictions follow a several-year-long investigation into the murders of Demond Tally, 45, and his son Demond Cottman, 21, both of Atlantic City, NJ, as well as a large-scale drug trafficking network. The murder of Demond Cottman occurred at the Hamilton Mall on Black Friday of 2016 when he was shot numerous times in the parking lot just after 1:00 a.m., ACPO officials say.
According to Atlantic County officials, the homicide investigation remained open and unsolved until additional information was learned as a result of the homicide investigation into Cottman’s father, Demond Tally, two and a half years later, on February 10, 2019. Demond Tally was shot numerous times outside of his residence in Atlantic City.
Martinez entered a guilty plea for his involvement in both killings as well as his position as a leader of a drug trafficking network, Atlantic County officials stated. Evidence showed the killings were related to Martinez’s role as a high-level drug distributor and that Martinez used the proceeds from his drug business in order to hire other individuals to kill Demond Tally in 2019.
In March 2025, ACPO officials said that Shamar Scott was tried and convicted of murder and related charges after a jury found that Scott was one of the shooters hired by Martinez to kill Demond Tally. Deshawn Hose admitted to providing a gun and assisting in locating Tally on the night of the 2019 murder.
Shiraz Khan was not believed to be involved in either murder but pleaded guilty to acting as a leader of the drug trafficking network, as well as paying a correctional officer to smuggle contraband into the Atlantic County Justice Facility during his incarceration on drug-related charges. Steven Martinez pleaded guilty to six crimes in two separate cases, according to ACPO officials.
He was sentenced to the following: 30 years in New Jersey State Prison to serve 85 percent before parole eligibility for the aggravated manslaughter of Demond Cottman; 30 years in New Jersey State Prison to serve 85 percent before parole eligibility for the aggravated manslaughter of Demond Tally; 30 years in New Jersey State Prison with 15 years of parole ineligibility for acting as a leader of a narcotics trafficking network; five years with three and a half years of parole ineligibility for possessing a handgun with the purpose to use it unlawfully against the person or property of another; and 20 years for possession with intent to distribute over five ounces of heroin, Atlantic County officials said. Each of these terms will run concurrently with the others.
In addition, ACPO officials say Martinez was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison for possessing a weapon known as a “shank” while incarcerated at the Atlantic County Justice Facility. That five-year term will run consecutively to the other five terms of imprisonment, for a total aggregate term of 35 years in prison, 30 of which he must serve eighty-five percent of his time before becoming eligible for parole.
Once released from prison, Martinez will remain under parole supervision for an additional five years. Shiraz Khan pleaded guilty to three crimes related to his involvement in the racketeering organization, Atlantic County officials said.
Atlantic County officials stated that he was sentenced to an aggregate term of 15 years in New Jersey State Prison with a period of five years of parole ineligibility for acting as a leader of a narcotics trafficking network, racketeering, and official misconduct. Deshawn Hose pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 12 years in New Jersey State Prison to serve 85 percent of the term before becoming eligible for parole.
Upon release, Hose will be subject to parole supervision for an additional five years. The remaining codefendants involved in the racketeering scheme are scheduled to be sentenced later this month, according to Atlantic County officials.