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City Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Gun, Meth Charges

A city man tied to the trafficking of crystal methamphetamine in the Jamestown area pleaded guilty Wednesday in Buffalo federal court to narcotics and gun charges.

U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. announced the guilty plea by 33-year-old Kyle Kamholtz on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara in Buffalo federal court.

Kamholtz, who has been jailed in the past for gun and domestic violence charges, is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, a maximum of life, and a $1 million fine for his role in the trafficking of narcotics in the Jamestown area.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth T. Molisani, who is handling the case, stated that the city man was identified as a methamphetamine distributor during an investigation that began in November 2017 by the Jamestown Police Department. Search warrants were executed at two city homes in March 2019, one at 102 McKinley Ave. and another at 6 Terrace Place.

Three residents, including Kamholtz, were jailed following the searches — executed by members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, Jamestown police and the New York State Police K-9 Unit.

During a search of the McKinley Avenue residence, investigators reported finding 4.8 grams of crystal meth, brass knuckles, a small quantity of methamphetamine, packaging materials and scales “used for the sales of and trafficking of crystal methamphetamine,” Jamestown police said.

At the time, Kamholtz was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminally using drug paraphernalia and criminal possession of a weapon.

“It’s very frustrating from a law enforcement perspective to continually arrest the same individuals for narcotics cases,” Capt. Robert Samuelson of the Jamestown Police Department told The Post-Journal in March of last year. “However, the individuals have the right to bail while they await trial or resolution to their cases, which often leads to us re-arresting certain individuals multiple times.”

Kamholtz has faced weapons possession charges in the past. According to Jamestown police, the city man was stopped Oct. 25, 2018, after the vehicle he was in was stopped on Foote Avenue. Kamholtz was found with a loaded .25-caliber pistol, netting him a felony second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

And in December 2016, Kamholtz was jailed after he allegedly grabbed a woman by the neck at a Tower Street residence and for violating an order of protection.

Sentencing on the federal charges is scheduled for June 4 before Judge Arcara.

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