Jamestown Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Drug Case

A Jamestown man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug distribution conspiracy.

Charles Lawson, also known as "Charley Marley," 38, was sentenced to 37 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York.

Federal prosecutors said that between January and March 2020, Lawson worked closely with convicted drug trafficker Rocco Beardsley, helping facilitate the sale of heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Authorities allege Lawson used Facebook to advertise and sell narcotics on Beardsley’s behalf and was compensated with drugs for personal use. Investigators conducted a controlled fentanyl purchase on January 23, 2020, in which Lawson was involved.

Beardsley was previously convicted and sentenced in connection to the case.

The investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which focuses on identifying and dismantling major criminal organizations through a multi-agency, intelligence-driven approach.

The case was handled by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Field Division and the Jamestown Police Department.