U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Theodore E. Coffie, 54, from Olean, New York, on a narcotics conspiracy charge. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could lead to a life sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti is handling the case and revealed that between July 2016 and March 2021, Coffie conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others to distribute various drugs including heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana in the Olean area. Zaso has already been convicted and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Coffie appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer for arraignment this afternoon and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing.
This indictment is part of an operation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which aims to identify and dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation leading to Coffie's indictment was conducted by the Jamestown Police Department under Chief Timothy Jackson's direction and the Drug Enforcement Administration led by Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino of the New York Field Division.
It is important to note that being charged with a crime does not equate to guilt; Coffie remains presumed innocent until proven otherwise in court.