Acting U.S. Attorney Joel Louis Violanti announced that a federal grand jury has indicted five individuals in connection with a drug conspiracy in Jamestown, New York. The defendants, Andres Pizzaro Campos, also known as Kiki, Max Pizzaro Campos, Cindy Frank, Edward Leeper, also known as Edward Barnes, and Jaquez L. Thomas, also known as Quez, face charges related to narcotics conspiracy. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could lead to life imprisonment.
In addition to the conspiracy charges, Andres and Max Pizzaro Campos are accused of possessing firearms to further their drug trafficking activities and maintaining a drug-involved premises. These charges come with an additional mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison. Cindy Frank faces an obstruction of justice charge for allegedly providing false testimony regarding her knowledge of Joseph S. Zaso's drug activities.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani are handling the case. According to the indictment, between 2018 and May 26, 2022, the defendants conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area. The indictment alleges that Andre and Max Pizarro Campos used a residence on Hazzard Street for their operations.
Joseph Zaso has already been charged and convicted; he is currently awaiting sentencing.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a coordinated multi-agency approach.
The investigation was conducted by the Jamestown Police Department under Chief Timothy Jackson's direction, the Drug Enforcement Administration led by Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III from the New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff James Quattrone's leadership.
It is important to note that being charged with a crime is merely an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.