City couple indicted on federal drug trafficking charges...
A Jamestown couple has been indicted on multiple drug-related charges for allegedly being part of a trafficking conspiracy earlier this year.  U.S. Attorney Trini Ross has announced that a federal grand jury has indicted 38 year-old Jensen Vazquez... and, 29 year-old Kylah Seiberg on charges of narcotics conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and using and maintaining a drug-involved premises.  Prosecutors say Vazquez... who is on federal, supervised release... falsely informed his supervising probation officer last August that he was changing residences and moving into a room on Victoria Avenue in Jamestown with another person, who was Seiberg.  In the early morning hours of Aug. 17... police got a 911 call requesting help for a serious head injury at the residence.  Paramedics found a victim laying in a pool of blood, and appeared to have been shot.  The investigation is ongoing... but the victim survived, and told police that shortly before the shooting, a person known as “Billy” purchased a firearm from Vazquez.  Shortly after they arrived... officers found Vazquez coming down the stairs... and, also encountered Seiberg standing on the side porch.  Vazquez told police that his e-bike was apparently stolen... and, suggested it was connected to the shooting.  Investigators later raided the Victoria Avenue home... and, recovered the e-bike, quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and xylazine, and cocaine, along with handgun magazines and ammunition.  They also recovered a 9mm handgun from Seiberg’s car... which was the same caliber as the bullet that shot the victim. Vazquez and Seiberg fled before the end of the search... and, later left the state for Florida.  The pair in September allegedly stole another vehicle, and drove it back to Jamestown.  Police got information that the pair were back at the Victoria Avenue residence... and, officers later arrested the pair at the home... and, found them with about 65-grams of Fentanyl.  The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, if convicted.

Woman from Falconer pleads guilty to being part of sex trafficking operation in the area...
A Falconer woman has pleaded guilty to federal sex trafficking and drug-related charges.  U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced Thursday that 25 year-old Cora Waddington entered the plea before U.S. District Judge John Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and benefitting financially from trafficking in persons.  Prosecutors say that between October and December 2022, Waddington conspired with Zaid Mendoza, and Kelvin Thomas to conduct a sex trafficking operation utilizing two victims with drug addictions.  Waddington, Mendoza, and Thomas provided shelter to the victims at a West Main Street home in Falconer, and provided them with food, clothing, and daily quantities of heroin and fentanyl in exchange for their performance of commercial sex acts for money.  The proceeds went to Mendoza who then provided clothes, food, spending money, heroin, and methamphetamine to Waddington.  The victims, through force and threats of force, performed commercial sex acts at both “in calls” at the Falconer residence, and “out calls.”  Waddington transported the victims to “out calls.”  She was later caught during a traffic stop in which she was allegedly found in possession of methamphetamine... while Mendoza was found with fentanyl.  Waddington faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life when she is sentenced next May.

While becoming part of the minority... Gillibrand looks forward to working on bi-partisan legislation in 2025...
Republicans will be in control of the White House... the House of Representatives... and, the U.S. Senate come early 2025.  However... that doesn't mean there can't be some bi-partisan legislation that may come out of the next Congress.  That from Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York... who was returned to office by state voters on Election Day.  Gillibrand says one piece of legislation she's looking forward to getting finished is the five-year Farm Bill... which will help the state's rural areas, and help farmers, along with rural development, and food security.  During a video conference call with state-wide media Thursday... Gillibrand highlighted two other measures she is working with Republicans on.  One is with South Carolina's Lindsey Graham... and, deals with age discrimination.  Currently... she says if you have a case... it has to go to arbitration... and a person has to sign a non-disclosure agreement.  She says the legislation allows seniors to go to court immediately and not have to do it confidentially.  The third measure that Gillibrand is hoping to get approved in the next Congress is a "stop trading" bill which she's working on with Missouri Republican Josh Hawley.

Westfield man recently arrested for road rage incident is arrested again on new charges from that incident...
A man from Westfield arrested last month in connection with an alleged road rage incident during which he got into an altercation with another motorist... and, then rammed his car into the other person's vehicle... has been arrested again on new charges.  Westfield Police say the incident occured on the evening of Oct. 20 on the Sherman-Westfield Road... when 53 year-old Robert Strang III allegedly got into the fight with the victim.  Strang is then accused of ramming the victim's car as the driver was trying to pass his vehicle in a passing zone.  Further investigation found that Strang had two children under the age of 18 in the car with him... violating an order of protection.  He was taken into custody on a warrant Tuesday, and faces additional charges including:  second-degree criminal mischief... two counts of endangering the welfare of a child... and, two counts of second-degree criminal contempt.  Strang was jailed pending arraignment.