Grand Jury Indicts Four Defendants in Narcotics Ring Operating in Jamestown and Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Joseph Zaso a/k/a Joey Cracks a/k/a Sosa, 39, of Buffalo, NY, Richard A. Philbrick Sr., 37, of Jamestown, NY, Brian Cessna, 63, of Jamestown, NY, and Kyle N. Lewis, 31, of Jamestown. NY, with narcotics conspiracy. In addition:
- Defendant 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.
- Defendant Philbrick is charged with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution, of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
- Defendant Cessna is charged with using and maintaining a drug-involved premises.
- Defendant 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 Street and 110 Fairview Avenue in Jamestown and 48 Laurel Street in Buffalo for their drug trafficking activities. Zaso is accused of selling heroin to an individual identified as B.K., causing serious bodily injury.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF 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.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.