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Four individuals, including three from Jamestown, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in a narcotics conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Wednesday in Buffalo. Those charged include: Joseph Zaso, who is also known as Joey Cracks or Sosa, 39, of Buffalo; Richard A. Philbrick Sr., 37, of Jamestown; Brian Cessna, 63, of Jamestown; and Kyle N. Lewis, 31, of Jamestown.
In addition, Zaso is charged with distribution of heroin causing serious bodily injury, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, using and maintaining a drug-involved premises, and distribution of fentanyl.
Philbrick is charged with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution, of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Cessna is charged with using and maintaining a drug-involved premises while Lewis is charged with distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
If convicted, Zaso faces up to life in prison while Philbrick, Cessna, and Lewis face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between September 2018, and May 26, 2022, defendant Zaso organized and managed an illegal narcotics ring in the Jamestown and Buffalo areas. Zaso conspired with defendants Philbrick, Lewis and Cessna to sell heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, utilizing residences at 12 Locust St. and 110 Fairview Ave. in Jamestown and 48 Laurel St. in Buffalo for their drug trafficking activities. Zaso is accused of selling heroin to an individual, causing serious bodily injury.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. The agency identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.