Richard Philbrick

A Jamestown man has pled guilty to drug charges that could carry a sentence of life in prison and $10 million fine.

U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced 37-year old Richard Philbrick made the plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more fentanyl.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison with a maximum of life and $10,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Violanti stated that Philbrick bought and sold heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and his own use, and utilized Facebook for his drug trafficking activities. Philbrick used and maintained residences on Newland Avenue in Jamestown for drug trafficking.

He will be sentenced October 2, 2023.

The discussion is a celebration of trailblazing women in Western New York’s legal community, historical and current.

It takes place from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Jackson Center. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.

The panel discussion will feature three leading women in New York’s legal field: Hon. Elizabeth Wolford, the first female Chief Judge of the Western District of New York; Maryann Saccomando Freedman, the first female president of the New York State Bar Association; and Trini Ross, the first black female to serve as US Attorney for the Western District of New York.

The discussion, moderated by Jamestown Bar Association President Kristin Lee Yaw, will highlight milestones and challenges overcome in their careers and other women in the legal community.

For more information, visit https://www.roberthjackson.org/events.

U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced that 28-year old Alisha Centi pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. These charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Violanti stated that between March 2020, and June 2021, Centi and co-defendant Garson Butcher conspired with others to possess and sell heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

On March 29, 2020, Centi and Butcher sold fentanyl which resulted in the death of a person identified as T.R. On September 28, 2020, Centi and Butcher sold heroin to a person identified as K.K., who overdosed but regained consciousness after receiving multiple doses of Narcan.

In addition, Centi and Butcher used residences on Fairview Avenue and Roland Road to manufacture and distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

Butcher was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

Centi will be sentenced on June 30, 2023.

Douglas Beardsley

A Jamestown man faces 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in Federal Court to drug charges.

U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced that 38-year old Douglas Beardsley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of firearms. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Violanti stated that between September 2018 and January 2019, Beardsley bought, sold, and distributed heroin and methamphetamine for profit in the Jamestown area, utilizing several co-conspirators, associates, and runners as well as Facebook and various electronic devices to operate his drug trafficking activities. Beardsley also distributed large amounts of methamphetamine to numerous other individuals in the Jamestown area. During the conspiracy, Beardsley utilized residences on Linden and Forest Avenue in Jamestown for his drug trafficking.

Throughout the conspiracy, Beardsley obtained approximately $112,000 in monetary proceeds from drug trafficking.

In March 2005, March 2009, and February 2013, Beardsley was convicted on various charges in Chautauqua County Court, including drug possession, attempted burglary, and DWI, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2023.

64-year old Elina Martinez of Miami has been named as the woman arrested after two K9 dogs found nine pounds of pills containing fentanyl in her rental car.

U.S. Attorney Trini Ross said Martinez has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute, and distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum of life in prison.

The seized blue pills have an approximate value of $1.3 million and are a counterfeit replica of the authentic M30 Oxycodone tablet.

Due to the rash of fatalities attributed to fentanyl overdoses, the Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a “counterfeit pills fact sheet” attempting to warn the community regarding the dangers of using/abusing these counterfeit drugs.

Garson Butcher

A Jamestown man has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl that led to a death.

U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced that 30-year old Garson Butcher admitted before U.S. District Judge John Sinatra, Jr. that he distributed fentanyl that caused a death, narcotics conspiracy, and using and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between March 2020 and June 2021, Butcher and co-defendant Alisha Centi conspired with others to possess and sell heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

On March 29, 2020, Butcher and Centi sold fentanyl which resulted in the death of an individual. On September 28, 2020, Butcher and Centi sold heroin to an individual who overdosed but regained consciousness after receiving multiple doses of Narcan. In addition, Butcher and Centi used residences on Fairview Avenue and Roland Road to manufacture and distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

Charges remain pending against Alisha Centi.

Butcher will be sentenced on March 14, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced that 51-year old James Tracy received child pornography images, solicited a minor to send him images, and engaged in sexual contact with an underage victim.
Investigators conducting a forensic review of Tracy’s electronics discovered 51 images of child pornography, some which included depictions of violence.

Prior to this investigation, in February 1995 and March 2001, Tracy was convicted of First Degree Sexual Abuse and First Degree Attempted Sexual Abuse. In each of the prior cases, both victims were under the age of 18.

U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara sentenced Tracy to serve 275 months in prison.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski; and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Tim Jackson.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in Buffalo to announce Federal charges against suspect in Buffalo mass shooting that killed 10.

Federal charges are being filed against the 18-year-old accused of fatally shooting 10 people at the Tops store in Buffalo.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York has filed a 26-count criminal complaint against Payton Gendron.

The charges include 10 counts of a hate crime resulting in death, three counts of a hate crime involving bodily injury and attempt to kill, 10 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, and three counts of use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

If convicted of the federal charges of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, the alleged shooter could face the death penalty.

In the criminal complaint, federal officials allege that his motive was to “prevent Black people from replacing white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire others to commit similar attacks.”

Previously, the accused shooter was already indicted on 25 other counts.

No one in New York had ever previously been indicted on a charge of domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate in the first degree.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Buffalo on Wednesday to pay respects at the site of the mass shooting on Buffalo’s east side. He and U.S. Attorney Trini Ross met with the families of the victims, as well.

Jackson Center President Kristan McMahon said the Continuing Legal Education series will begin at 9:00 a.m., April 1.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York Trini Ross will present “The Role of the Federal Prosecutor.” Ms. Ross is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of federal criminal case brought within the 17 counties of Western New York. The Office also represents the United States in all civil matters brought within this territory.

The program will include a reenactment of the play, “The Trial of Al Capone” edited by Scott Leeson Sroka, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, and author Paul Heimel.

The program will conclude with an interview by Jackson Center co-founder, Greg Peterson, with Jeremiah McCarthy, the U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York.

The event is free of charge, but pre-registration is required online at roberthjackson.org/events or by calling 716-483-6646.

Dustin Post

A Fredonia man has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for producing and possessing child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Trini Ross said 26-year old Dustin Post had pleaded guilty to the crimes following an investigation by State Police. That investigation began after police received a complaint from a parent. In Summer 2019, Post video recorded his sexual abuse of a 12-year old girl. Investigators found, following a forensic analysis of electronic devices own by Post, multiple images and videos of child pornography.

In a separate case, Post had been charged this past summer in County Court for 11 separate crimes of felony predatory sexual assault against a child, 9 separate crimes of first degree sexual assault, and first degree rape. Post pleaded not guilty to those charges.