Two Western New York Men Indicted on Federal Drug Charges

The defendants, Ernest Brown, 42, of Buffalo, and James Jackson, 38, of Jamestown, face significant penalties if convicted.

A federal grand jury has indicted two men from Western New York on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in the Buffalo and Jamestown areas, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced.

The defendants, Ernest Brown, 42, of Buffalo, and James Jackson, 38, of Jamestown, face significant penalties if convicted. Brown could face a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life, while Jackson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.

According to the indictment, Brown and Jackson allegedly conspired with others, including Joseph S. Zaso, between 2018 and May 26, 2022, to distribute fentanyl. Zaso has already been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

Following their arraignment before U.S. District Judge Michael J. Roemer, both Brown and Jackson were ordered to be detained.

The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, which focuses on dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a collaborative, intelligence-driven approach. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Jamestown Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities emphasize that an indictment is merely an allegation, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.