Charles Lawson, also known as Charley Marley, a resident of Jamestown, New York, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for his involvement in a drug conspiracy. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo made the announcement following the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who managed the case, detailed that between January and March 2020, Lawson collaborated with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He was closely associated with Rocco Beardsley and played an active role in Beardsley's drug trafficking operations. Lawson utilized Facebook to promote and sell drugs on behalf of Beardsley and received narcotics for personal use as compensation for his involvement. On January 23, 2020, during a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Beardsley, Lawson was actively involved. Beardsley had already been convicted and sentenced prior to this.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at identifying and dismantling major criminal organizations posing threats to the United States through a coordinated multi-agency approach led by prosecutors.
The investigation leading to Lawson's sentencing was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration under Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III of the New York Field Division and the Jamestown Police Department led by Chief Timothy Jackson.
For more information about OCDETF operations, visit https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.