Federal grand jury indicts Buffalo man on multiple drug and gun charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Giovanni Ortiz, 31, of Buffalo, NY, with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in May 2024, HSI and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Ortiz, which included a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Ortiz. The investigation also determined that Ortiz was utilizing multiple residences for his drug trafficking activities. On August 6, 2024, investigators executed search warrants at residences associated with Ortiz on West Avenue, Rhode Island and Jersey Streets. During the searches, they seized two loaded firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, magazines, quantities of suspected crack cocaine and fentanyl, $2,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia. A quantity of cocaine was also seized from Ortiz’s vehicle.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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