U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Blake D. Smith a/k/a Sweets, 49, of Jamestown with narcotics conspiracy and possession of firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between February 2017 and February 2025, Smith conspired with Joseph S. Zaso, and others, to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area. In addition, between February 2017, and May 2022, Smith possessed a firearm during his drug trafficking activities.

Zaso was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

Smith was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being held pending a detention hearing.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division.