(WNY News Now) – Buffalo – Roberto Morales Sanchez, 55, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty to his involvement in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy involving significant quantities of heroin and fentanyl. U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. presided over the case, which could see Sanchez face a minimum of 10 years behind bars and up to life in prison, alongside a potential $10 million fine.
The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, revealed that Sanchez not only bought and sold drugs but also supplied heroin and fentanyl to co-conspirators Ryan Bloom and Rachelle Allison. The trio used a Fairview Avenue residence in Jamestown to operate their drug trafficking ring, which also included a needle exchange program run by Bloom and Allison.
Sanchez, who also trafficked drugs from his Willis Street home, kept a loaded revolver for protection. On February 26, 2021, he confronted another individual over a stolen 20 grams of heroin. Sanchez loaded the firearm in front of the person, who managed to escape unharmed. Later, law enforcement executed search warrants on Sanchez’s property, recovering $24,520 in cash, a loaded revolver, and ammunition.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, aiming to dismantle high-level criminal organizations. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, Jamestown Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration played critical roles in the investigation.
Sentencing for Sanchez is set for January 24, 2025, with co-defendants Bloom and Allison already convicted and awaiting sentencing.
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