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Press Release

Jamestown Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine, And Marijuana

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of New York

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Juan Pacheco, Jr., 36, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and marijuana. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Felicetta and Joel L. Violanti, who are handling the case, stated that the defendant was receiving kilogram quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from California that were smuggled into the United States from Mexico.  Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration working collaboratively with law enforcement officers from the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force (JMDTF) identified Pacheco as a significant dealer in the Jamestown area and began investigating his activities. 

Pacheco was arrested on August 18, 2016, after authorities executed a search warrant at his stash house located at 477 Main Street in Jamestown. Officers recovered approximately nine kilograms of cocaine, three-and-a-half kilograms of methamphetamine, and three kilograms of marijuana. Approximately $133,000 in cash was also seized as well as approximately $7,000 from the defendant’s pocket upon his arrest. 

Pacheco pleaded guilty just two weeks before the start of a jury trial in this case.

Today’s plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, which includes officers from the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings; the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of William L. Ohnmeiss Jr.; and the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major Mary Clark.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 31, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.

Updated June 22, 2018