U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced the sentencing of Richard S. Dean, 49, from Jamestown, NY. Dean was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing 500 grams of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara sentenced him to 70 months in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who managed the case, revealed that Dean was a drug trafficking associate of Douglas Beardsley. During their operation, Dean frequently visited Beardsley's residences on Linden and Forest Avenues in Jamestown to collect methamphetamine and heroin for distribution. Beardsley occasionally provided narcotics upfront for Dean to sell. The two often communicated about their activities through Facebook.
On January 6, 2019, local law enforcement observed Dean behaving suspiciously and attempting to evade officers before being arrested on an outstanding warrant. He was found with methamphetamine, heroin, plastic baggies, a digital scale, and Dimethyl Sulfone at the Jamestown City jail following his arrest. On March 21, 2019, Dean pleaded guilty in Chautauqua County Court to charges related to possession and sale of controlled substances.
Douglas Beardsley had already been convicted and sentenced to 176 months in prison.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations in the United States through a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller; the Drug Enforcement Administration under Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino; and the Jamestown Police Department led by Chief Timothy Jackson.
