(WNY News Now) – ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a 31-year old Jamestown, NY, woman pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, $10,000,000 fine. In addition, a 34-year-old male also of Jamestown, pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that Savannah Gross, 31, and her boyfriend, co-defendant Richard Philbrick, bought and sold heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and their own use. The couple used and maintained residences on Newland Avenue in Jamestown, for the purposes of their drug trafficking activities. During the course of the investigation, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Gross.
Defendant Kyle Lewis, 34, distributed amounts of heroin and fentanyl, sourced in part from Richard Philbrick. He utilized electronic media to facilitate his drug trafficking activities, including social media and cash applications. Investigators made five controlled purchases of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine from Lewis during the investigation.
Richard Philbrick 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 pleas are the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
Sentencing for Gross and Lewis will be scheduled at a later date.
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