BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Chelsey Hunt, 29, of Jamestown NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $500,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Misha Coulson, who are handling the case, stated that between January and December 2018, the defendant rented the second floor of a residence on Linden Avenue in Jamestown. While living there with her children, Hunt, in violation of the terms of her lease, allowed co-defendant Douglas Beardsley to live in the attic. Beardsley conducted his methamphetamine and heroin trafficking operation from the attic. Hunt took an active role in assisting the operation, such as helping with Beardsley’s customers and informing about police activity around the residence. The defendant also sold small amounts of narcotics for Beardsley and purchased narcotics for her personal use as well.
Charges remain pending against Douglas Beardsley. 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.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
