BUFFALO, N.Y. – The grim streets of Buffalo have been jolted by the news that Giovanni Ortiz, a 31-year-old local known as a drug kingpin, has been hit with a major federal indictment.
According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Ortiz stands accused of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Should Ortiz be found guilty on all counts, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with the possibility of life behind bars.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola revealed that the investigation into Ortiz began in May 2024 when HSI and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office embarked on a sting operation that culminated in the controlled purchase of fentanyl from Ortiz. The probe soon unraveled Ortiz’s web of drug trafficking activities, which included using multiple homes as staging grounds for his illegal operations.
On August 6, 2024, authorities executed search warrants at several properties linked to Ortiz, including those on West Avenue, Rhode Island Street, and Jersey Streets. Inside, they seized two loaded firearms, a cache of ammunition, magazines, suspected crack cocaine and fentanyl, $2,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. A quantity of cocaine was also recovered from Ortiz’s vehicle.
The charges against Ortiz are the culmination of an extensive investigation led by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and Homeland Security Investigations, directed by Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
It is crucial to note that the defendant has been charged with a crime but is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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