U.S. Attorney Joel Louis Violanti announced that Rocco A. Beardsley, 39, from Jamestown, NY, has been sentenced to 300 months in prison for narcotic conspiracy and distribution of fentanyl causing death. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Evan K. Glaberson, and Jeffrey E. Intravatola revealed that between late 2018 and March 2020, Beardsley conspired with seven others to sell methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other controlled substances in the Jamestown area. On April 9, 2019, Beardsley sold acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl resulting in the death of an individual identified as J.A. Following J.A.'s death, Beardsley attempted to conceal his involvement by directing others to destroy evidence at the scene.
Beardsley conducted drug trafficking activities using social media and utilized residences on Sampson Street and Cowden Place in Jamestown for these operations. Law enforcement carried out five controlled purchases from Beardsley during their investigation. Additionally, he and his co-conspirators were involved in money transfers related to the narcotics conspiracy.
Search warrants executed at residences linked to the drug conspiracy led law enforcement to seize approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, 66 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, 4 grams of crack cocaine, a shotgun, and drug paraphernalia.
Previously convicted in Federal Court in 2007 for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine with a sentence of 57 months in prison and again in New York State Court in 2017 for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent To Sell Narcotic Drugs.
Seven defendants were charged and convicted alongside Beardsley.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a prosecutor-led approach involving multiple agencies.
The investigation was conducted by several law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration under Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III; the Jamestown Police Department under Chief Timothy Jackson; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller; the New York State Police under Major Amie P. Feroleto; and the Town of Ellicott Police Department under Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.