Another person indicted by federal Grand Jury in Jamestown-area drug trafficking operation...
A Jamestown woman is the latest person to be indicted on federal drug-related charges surrounding the drug trafficking operation headed up by Joseph Zaso. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced a grand jury returned the indictment... charging 34 year-old Latika Saintkitts -- also known as Tika -- with narcotics conspiracy. Prosecutors in Buffalo say that, according to the indictment, between 2018, and late May of 2022... Saintkitts conspired with Zaso and others, to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area. Co-defendants include: Andres Pizzaro Campos, Max Pizzaro Campos, Cindy Frank, Edward Leeper, and Jaquez Thomas. Zaso was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. Saintkitts was arraigned before U.S. District Court and released. If convicted... she faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
City man sentenced to just over 3 yerars in prison for role in local drug conspiracy...
A man from Jamestown has been sentenced to three-years and one month in federal prison for his alleged role in a local drug trafficking conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that 38 year-old Charles Lawson -- also known as Charley Marley... who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl... was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 37 months in prison. Prosecutors say that between January and March 2020, Lawson conspired with others to sell heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Lawson was a close associate of Rocco Beardsley and actively helped with Beardsley’s drug trafficking activities. DiGiacomo says Lawson used Facebook to advertise and sell Beardsley’s heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine... and, he received narcotics for personal use from Beardsley as compensation for his services. In January of 2020... investigators conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Beardsley, and Lawson participated in the purchase. Beardsley was previously convicted and sentenced.
Celoron man sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for selling large quantities of meth and fentanyl...
A man from Celoron will spend 10 years in federal prison on his conviction for selling methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Jamestown-area. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that 31 year-old Darin Butts, Jr. was given the sentence Thursday in U.S. District Court for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Prosecutors say that in July and August 2023... investigators conducted seven controlled, undercover buys of meth and fentanyl from Butts. In August of that year... agents conducted a raid on Butts’ residence and his two vehicles. DiGiacomo says law enforcement seized about 610 grams of meth... some of it packaged in smaller, individual-sized quantities... drug paraphernalia, and nearly 15-thousand dollars in cash... proceeds from his methamphetamine trafficking. In early May of last year... law enforcement executed another search warrant at Butts’ residence, seizing multiple quantities of suspected meth and fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
Industrial accident in Dunkirk leads to fatality...
An industrial accident earlier this week in the city of Dunkirk claimed a life. Dunkirk Police and Fire, along with Alstar Ambulance, responded to Dunkirk Specialty Steel on Brigham Road at about 5 p.m. Monday. Police Chief Chris Witkowski says the victim received immediate medical attention... and was rushed to Brooks Memorial Hospital, where the individual was later pronounced dead. Witkowski says no further information will be released out of respect for the family. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Labor says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating the incident and has six months to complete its probe. No other details are available.
City man arrested following argument with yelling on eastside...
A man from Jamestown has been arrested following a domestic incident that involved yelling back and forth with a woman on the city's eastside late last night. Jamestown police were called to the location just after 10:30 p.m., and, found 36 year-old Bruce Miles and the woman yelling at each other. Officers say they knew the woman had a valid "Stay Away" order of protection against Miles. Officers were able to speak to the victim and got confirmation that Miles was inside the residence. They later found him hiding inside a bedroom. When advised he was being taken into custody... Mile wouldn't comply... and, after a brief struggle... he was arrested. He's charged with second-degree criminal contempt... and, resisting arrest. Miles was jailed pending arraignment.
Chautauqua Lake Symposium set to go at Chautauqua Harbor Hotel for Saturday...
Tomorrow's second-annual Chautauqua Lake Symposium will provide a comprehensive look at ongoing efforts to restore the lake's ecosystem for years to come. That from County Executive P.J. Wendel... who is set to host the program... which begins at 9 a.m. at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron. This year... the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to get it's Chautauqua Lake Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study fully underway. The contracts for the work were signed last year. Wendel adds that several lake groups and entities are expected to be on hand for the event. That would include the new Chautauqua Lake Property Owners Association. Back to the Army Corps... Wendel says there will be a dedicated public question and answer session to gather community input and address questions. He says while the first program begins at 9 a.m., they'll have some light refreshments before hand... starting at 8:30 a.m. The program will be livestreamed on the county's YouTube channel.
