BUFFALO, N.Y. – A 22-year-old Jamestown man is heading to prison for his role in a fentanyl conspiracy that rocked the Chautauqua County town.
Jaquez Thomas, 22, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, Thomas distributed quantities of fentanyl and cocaine he received from Joseph Zaso between 2020 and 2022. He utilized Facebook and Cash App to conduct his drug trafficking activities, supplying quantities of fentanyl to Justin Yuchnitz and Joseph Thayer.
Thomas also conspired with Jose Maisonet in 2022. In Spring of 2022, Jamestown Police officers conducted three controlled purchases from Jose Maisonet. In July 2022, a search warrant was executed at Thomas’ Allen Street residence, where a loaded handgun and drug paraphernalia were seized.
A search warrant was also executed at Maisonet’s Forest Avenue residence, where quantities of suspected crack cocaine and methamphetamine, digital scales, cell phones, and $2,715.00 in cash were seized.
Joseph Zaso, Joseph Thayer, and Justin Yuchnitz were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing. Jose Maisonet was previously convicted and sentenced in a separate case.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the government to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The operation streamlines efforts and resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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