A Fredonia man who sold drugs that caused a man in Celoron to overdose and die is headed to prison.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo has announced that 38-year-old John Wallace Buchanan, who was convicted of narcotics conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 11 years and three months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Buchanan was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $8,570 to the family of the victim.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Jeffrey E. Intravatola, and Mary Clare Kane, who handled the case, stated that during the conspiracy, Buchanan sold heroin, which he admitted often contained fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He utilized social media to conduct his drug trafficking activities and engage in unlawful firearms activities. Buchanan also utilized his residence to conduct his drug trafficking activities.

One of Buchanan’s drug customers was an individual identified as B.G. In the early morning hours of Jan. 10, 2022, the Ellicott Police Department responded to B.G.’s residence in Celoron for a death investigation. The victim was found lying on the living room floor, clenching an elastic head band in his hands with a needle in close proximity.

Law enforcement seized the victim’s cell phone and recovered a social media conversation on Jan. 7, 2022, between Buchanan and the victim, during which they discussed controlled substances.

Buchanan sold methamphetamine and an opioid to B.G. later that day. The following day, B.G. sent Buchanan a message stating, “That stuff is strong.”

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 sentencing is 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, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, and the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dan Ingrao.