Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Jamestown Drug Conspiracy
An Ohio man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation that brought methamphetamine into the Jamestown area.
Justin Whitfield, 25, of Cincinnati, was sentenced to 77 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to prosecutors, Whitfield was connected to a larger drug trafficking network led by his cousin, Rocco Beardsley, in Jamestown. Investigators determined that Beardsley used a supplier in Cincinnati to obtain methamphetamine, with Whitfield playing a role in facilitating that connection. Authorities said Whitfield also used social media to conduct drug-related conversations and coordinate trafficking activities.
The case was part of an investigation that began in April 2019 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), targeting heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine distribution in the Jamestown area. The effort was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, a federal initiative focused on dismantling high-level criminal organizations.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Jamestown Police Department, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, the DEA’s New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials emphasized the importance of cooperation among agencies in addressing drug trafficking in local communities.
“This case is an example of how multi-agency collaboration can successfully disrupt drug networks that threaten our neighborhoods,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the DEA’s New York Field Division.