Two Jamestown residents have been sentenced on federal drug charges for their involvement in a regional drug ring.

Sentences in the cases of Kelly Berenguer and Brian Cessna are just the latest in a long line of charges, pleas and sentences related to Zaso’s drug trafficking ring in Buffalo and Jamestown. In total, 21 people ranging from Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Binghamton (who was living in Georgia when he was charged) and Olean face federal charges announced over the past four years.

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Monday that Kelly Berenguer, 46, of Jamestown, who was convicted of possession of methamphetamine, was sentenced to time served by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

On October 17, 2024, Kelly Berenguer’s vehicle was stopped by Jamestown Police. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a quantity of methamphetamine and a digital scale. Berenguer was taken into custody at that time.

DiGiacomo also said Brian Cessna, 66, of Jamestown, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

During the course of the conspiracy, Cessna bought and sold heroin and fentanyl, for profit and his own use. He also assisted co-conspirator Holly Berenguer in selling heroin and fentanyl, for profit and her own use, delivering on her behalf and collecting payments. An individual known as “Joey Cracks” (co-defendant Joseph Zaso) was Berenguer’s source of supply. Cessna utilized his Fairview Avenue residence for drug trafficking purposes and also allowed Berenguer to utilize the residence to sell drugs.

Holly Berenguer and Joseph Zaso were previously convicted.

Zaso, also known as Joey Cracks, was first federally indicted on June 7, 2022, with using and maintaining a drug-involved premises and distribution of fentanyl. He is still awaiting sentencing after previously pleading guilty, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The original indictment said that between September 2018 and May 2022, Zaso and Denver Komenda conspired to possess and sell heroin and fentanyl. Zaso is also accused of using a residence on Locust Street in Jamestown to conduct drug trafficking activities, including the distribution of large quantities of heroin and fentanyl. At the time Zaso had been on supervised release after being sentenced to 60 months in a federal prison after pleading to a federal drug charge in Michigan. The supervised release was transferred to the Western District of New York. In addition to the 2015 federal drug charge in Michigan Zaso had several arrests and multiple felony convictions that included two drug-related felonies, according to a 2022 federal court decision that allowed the government to incarcerate Zaso while awaiting trial on his Jamestown charges.

Additional charges against Zaso were announced in November 2023 that include brandishing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and document concealment of material fact, for allegedly lying on his monthly probation reports while under the supervision of U.S. Probation. Prosecutors added a second Jamestown address to the previous 12 Locust St. address in the first indictment, with an address on Fairview Avenue also used for drug trafficking.

This case was 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.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.