City man pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking charges leading to two overdose deaths...
A Jamestown man has pleaded guilty to trafficking illegal narcotic drugs... including fentanyl and heroin resulting in two overdose deaths. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross has announced that 35 year-old Steven Mojica-Medina pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Prosecutors say back in August of 2018... Medina was accused of selling fentanyl... and a fentanyl analogue mixture to a person identified as "J.H..." who died after taking the drugs. About a week later... Medina is accused of selling a substance containing heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl to a person, who then sold it to a person identified as "J.T." who then overdosed and died. In late 2020... Jamestown Police made undercover drug buys from Medina... and his Euclid Avenue home was later raided. Police found two loaded firearms, a drug ledger, 48 bags of fentanyl weighing 1.76 grams, and cocaine. Then in November of 2020... Medina was pulled over in his vehicle by city police... and, they recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol... six magazines and about 167 rounds of ammunition. He also had 24 wrapped baggies of crack cocaine. Medina is a convicted Felony, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He's to be sentenced next Dec. 11, and, faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison and a $1-million fine.
Investigation ongoing into vacant house fire on Jamestown's eastside...
City firefighters had to battle flames in a vacant and condemned home on Jamestown's eastside... and, keep the fire away from a neighboring house overnight. City Fire Battalion Chief Ryan Rousch says crews were called to 901 East Second St. shortly before Midnight... and, found heavy flames coming from the back of the home. Rousch says it appeared the blaze might also be spreading to a neighboring home. He says firefighters also quickly evacuated the next door home at 903 East Second before turning full attention to the fire. He says city police assisted in making sure that anyone inside either home had gotten out. Rousch says once the blaze was knocked down from the outside... an interior crew went inside 901 East Second to get the flames out there. An off-duty shift was called in. Firefighters were at the scene until 4:30 a.m. Thursday. The Department of Development was called in to assess the damage. No injuries were reported... and, the cause is under investigation.
Dunkirk man arrested during Ruggles St. drug raid...
A four-month probe into illegal narcotics sales from a residence in the city of Dunkirk led to the arrest of one person Wednesday. Dunkirk Police Chief Dave Ortolano says narcotics investigators executed a search warrant at 75 Ruggles St. shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday. Ortolano says police arrested 44 year-old Antoine Jones for third-degree criminal possession, and criminal sale of a controlled substance... and, criminal nuisance. He says the arrest was the result of a cooperative effort from multiple agencies... including Jamestown Police. Jones was arraigned in Dunkirk City Court and is being held in the county jail.
