Operation Meltdown is discussed during a press conference in June 2018. P-J file photo

BUFFALO — Guilty pleas were entered for 10 people, many local residents, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization primarily involving the distribution of methamphetamine in the Jamestown area.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the pleas in a news release Monday evening, just hours before a trial was to kick off in U.S. federal court in Buffalo. All 10 pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

They include: Andrew C. Bennett, 31, of Randolph; Jacob A. Motherwell, 31, of Jamestown; Destiny J. Hare, 31, of Randolph; Michael A. Davis, 36, of Jamestown; Ryan R. Lopez, 26, of Palmdale, Calif.; Martin Marcus Bowman, 29, of San Bernardino, Calif.; Jamell Trapp, 29, of Jamestown; Henry Stovall, Jr., 42, of Jamestown; Danny W. Michael, III, 47, of Jamestown; and Alexis V. Hall, 25, of Harrison, N.J.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the group conspired — with another six co-defendants — to operate a drug trafficking ring in the Jamestown area between March 2017 and October 2018.

During the execution of search warrants throughout the investigation, law enforcement officers recovered 10 firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition, over 20 cellphones, drug paraphernalia and cash.

The six co-defendants who were previously convicted include: Zackiel Fields, Jr.; Ernest Cauley, Jr.; Ramael O. Fields; Stephanie L. Harrison; Searcy E. Fields; and Stacie N. Yancer.

“Through the tremendous partnership between federal and local law enforcement, 16 individuals who committed federal crimes have been brought to justice, and a well-armed drug trafficking organization responsible for polluting Jamestown and the Southern Tier with highly addictive and debilitating methamphetamine has been dismantled,” U.S. Attorney James Kennedy said in a news release.  “My office and our DOJ law enforcement partners are always looking for ways to help to support local law enforcement as they work tirelessly on the front lines in the fight to preserve law and order and strengthen the communities they serve by making them safer and more secure. In this case, I say, ‘mission accomplished.'”