A Buffalo man has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a narcotics conspiracy, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. Ernest Brown, also known as Wayne Perry and Wayne Brown, age 43, entered his plea before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could result in a life sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani stated that Brown served as a source of supply for Joseph Zaso during the conspiracy period. Zaso connected with Brown through co-defendant James Jackson, who acted as an intermediary for drug transactions. Meetings between Brown and his co-conspirators took place at various locations throughout Buffalo, including the homes of Zaso and Jackson. On some occasions, Jackson delivered fentanyl to Zaso on behalf of Brown.
Joseph Zaso has already been charged and convicted; he is currently awaiting sentencing. Charges against James Jackson are still pending.
“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,” according to the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. Additional information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation leading to Brown's plea involved several agencies: the Jamestown Police Department led by Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration under Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam of the New York Enforcement Division; and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff James Quattrone.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., before Judge Sinatra.
