A federal grand jury has indicted Jason Talley, a 46-year-old resident of Buffalo, New York, on charges of narcotics conspiracy. The indictment carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and could lead to a life sentence if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced the indictment, which alleges that between 2018 and May 26, 2022, Talley conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area. Co-defendants named in the case include Andres Pizzaro Campos, Joseph Thayer, Max Pizzaro Campos, Cindy Frank, Edward Leeper, and Jaquez L. Thomas. Joseph Zaso has already been charged and convicted; he is currently awaiting sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani are handling the prosecution of this case. Talley was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and remains detained.
This legal action is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The operation involves resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The investigation leading to Talley's indictment was conducted by several law enforcement agencies: the Jamestown Police Department under Chief Timothy Jackson's direction; the Drug Enforcement Administration led by Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the New York Field Division; and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff James Quattrone's leadership.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.