Three Jamestown Residents Going To Prison In Two Separate Cases For Selling Fentanyl That Led To A Death

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Garson E. Butcher, 31, and Alisha Centi, 29, both of Jamestown, NY, who were convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Butcher was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison and Centi was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison. In a separate case, Judge Sinatra sentenced Ryan Bloom, 37, also of Jamestown, to serve 240 months in prison. Bloom was also convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the cases, stated that between March 2020, and June 2021, Butcher and Centi conspired with others to possess and sell heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. On March 29, 2020, Butcher and Centi sold fentanyl which resulted in the death of an individual identified as T.R. On September 28, 2020, Butcher and Centi sold heroin to an individual identified as K.K., who overdosed but regained consciousness after receiving multiple doses of Narcan. In addition, Butcher and Centi used residences on Fairview Avenue and Roland Road to manufacture and distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Violanti stated that defendant Bloom bought and sold heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and his own use. Bloom and co-conspirator, Rachelle Allison, utilized a Fairview Avenue residence in Jamestown to conduct their drug trafficking activities, selling drugs, and running a needle exchange out of the residence. These activities resulted in numerous overdoses occurring at that location. On April 5, 2020, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Hoag Road residence in Ashville, NY, for a possible overdose death. Upon arrival, an individual identified as D.R., was found deceased. A search of D.R.’s cellular telephone revealed Facebook messages between D.R. and Bloom the previous day that were drug related. Bloom admits that he and Allison distributed heroin and fentanyl to D.R. the day before D.R.’s death. On July 19, 2020, Bloom sold heroin and fentanyl to an individual identified as A.R. at the Fairview Avenue residence, resulting in A.R. overdosing. After receiving two doses of Narcan, A.R. and was revived and regained consciousness.

Rachelle Allison was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James B. Quattrone.

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