Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings stands with other local, state and federal officials on June 19 to provide details of a major meth trafficking investigation and 18 subsequent arrests.

JAMESTOWN – A joint effort by local, state, and federal authorities has led to the arrest of 18 individuals involved with allegedly trafficking and selling methamphetamine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Karaszewski was in Jamestown Tuesday to announce details of Operation Meltdown.  He was joined by representatives from the Jamestown Police Department, the Town Of Ellicott Police, the New York State Police, the FBI and the ATF.

Karaszewski said the investigation began in November 2017 when it was learned individuals were using the U.S. Post Office to ship methamphetamine from California to Fredonia. The drug, which was described as 97 percent pure, originated from Mexico. Once in Fredonia, the drug was then distributed throughout Chautauqua County, including here in Jamestown. In all about seven pounds of the drug, with an estimated street value of $300,000, made its way into  the area during the past seven months.

The individuals who were arrested in Operation Meltdown, a joint investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Chautauqua County, NY.

Karaszewski said the drugs were sent to the home of 27-year-old Jamell Trapp and Marcus Bowman of Fredonia. The two men were arrested on Monday and charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Also arrested on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute were 44 year-old Danny Michael III; 23 year-old Alexis Hall, 29 year-old Andrew Bennett, 49 year-old Searcy Fields, 29 year-old Jacob Motherwell, 33 year-old Michael Davis, and 38 year-old Stacie Yancer, all of Jamestown, and 29 year-old Destiny Hare of Randolph.

Six other Jamestown area residents were also arrested on state charges of conspiracy to distribute of methamphetamine. They were 22 year-old Evan Motherwell, 50 year-old Tina Motherwell, 50, 37 year-old Joey Weise, 45 year-old Christina Dean, 25 year-old Jarred Dean, and 42 year-old Richard Dean.

Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings acknowledged that several of the names on the list are repeat offenders, but added that for those now facing federal charges, there’s a strong likelihood they wont be back on the streets any time soon.

All individuals are being held to await further court proceedings.