BUFFALO, N.Y. – Holly Berenguer, 43, of Jamestown, New York, walked out of court a free woman today, but her days dealing poison are over. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Berenguer received a sentence of time served and four years of supervised release after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, feels light to some, but the feds are claiming a win as part of a larger operation targeting high-level drug traffickers.
The bust originated with a simple warrant check. On September 5, 2021, a Jamestown Police Officer snagged Berenguer on an active bench warrant for failing to show up in Jamestown City Court. It was during processing that things got interesting. Officers discovered a white powdery substance – later confirmed to be heroin and methamphetamine – and a stash of $450 hidden within her clothing. That seemingly small find unraveled a larger network.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti laid out the case: between September 2020 and September 2021, Berenguer wasn’t just holding onto a little product for personal use. She was actively distributing large amounts of heroin and fentanyl throughout the Jamestown area, feeding a dangerous addiction cycle and profiting off misery. The investigation revealed a pattern of dealing that spanned over a year.
This wasn’t a solo operation. The takedown is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, a multi-agency, prosecutor-led initiative designed to dismantle the most dangerous criminal organizations in the United States. OCDETF focuses on intelligence gathering and a coordinated approach to cripple the supply chain. You can find more about their work at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Jamestown Police Department, led by Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino. While Berenguer received time served, this case sends a message – even low-level players in a fentanyl distribution network will face consequences. The question remains, however, whether this sentence will truly deter others from following in her footsteps.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the wider OCDETF efforts in New York and beyond. The opioid crisis remains a deadly threat, and we’ll be there to expose the individuals and organizations fueling it, no matter how high up the chain they may be.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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