Joey Cracks Gets 20 Years for Buffalo Heroin and Fentanyl Ring

BUFFALO, N.Y.-A 40-year-old Buffalo man has pleaded guilty to leading a heroin and fentanyl ring in Jamestown, NY, that brought in substantial income and resources. Joseph Zaso, aka Joey Cracks, aka Sosa, faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, and a maximum of life, for his role in the conspiracy.

According to U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, Zaso conspired with others to sell significant quantities of heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area between September 2018 and May 2022. As the leader of the operation, Zaso was the source of supply for several local drug dealers, using a network of dealers and runners to facilitate his business.

Zaso also possessed firearms to protect his supply of narcotics and used the proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle. On May 26, 2022, search warrants were executed at his Buffalo residence, where investigators seized drug paraphernalia.

Making matters worse, Zaso was under the supervision of U.S. Probation in the Western District of New York at the time, having been released from a 2015 conviction in the Eastern District of Michigan. As part of his supervision, Zaso was required to submit monthly reports to U.S. Probation, which included information about his employment. However, Zaso falsified his reports, claiming he was employed when in reality he was earning a living from drug trafficking.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that the investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF is a multi-agency effort that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office. Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.