Giovanni Rosa, 32, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty on July 21 to narcotics conspiracy before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5 million.
Prosecutors said that between January and February 2025, Rosa conspired with others to sell fentanyl in the Buffalo area. Investigators conducted three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Rosa between January 30 and February 27, 2025. For each transaction, Rosa acquired approximately an ounce of fentanyl from his supplier.
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The task force is described as a whole-of-government partnership focused on eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating within the United States and abroad. According to the announcement, “Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations.” The statement also notes that special emphasis is placed on crimes involving children, and efforts are made to prosecute or remove violent criminal aliens.
HSTF Buffalo/Rochester includes agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), with prosecution led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Fitzsimmons is prosecuting this case following an investigation by DEA agents under Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam for the New York Field Division.
Sentencing for Rosa is scheduled for November 16 before Judge Sinatra.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York engages with community groups and conducts training forums to boost public safety and quality of life; its main office is at 138 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo with a branch office at 100 State Street in Rochester; it operates under the Department of Justice; employs about 120 federal prosecutors and support staff; prosecutes federal criminal violations; handles civil litigation on behalf of the United States; collects federal debts; and covers seventeen counties in western New York, according to the official website.