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Seven Are Charged In Drug Bust In City

BUFFALO — U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced Friday that a federal grand jury returned a 34-count superseding indictment that charged seven defendants who had been operating in the Jamestown area for their roles in a narcotics conspiracy.

The grand jury charged defendants Rocco A. Beardsley, Tyler N. Tedesco, Miller Hagga, aka Kido, Kylie M. Reeves, Garland Beardsley, aka Charlie Beardsley, and Austin Gordon, with narcotics conspiracy.

They also charged Beardsley with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. All six defendants faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Misha Coulson, who are handling the case, said that, the seven defendants participated in a drug trafficking ring led by Beardsley from December 2018 to Tuesday that sold methamphetamine, heroin, acetyl fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, and hydrocodone in the Jamestown area. They are accused of selling the illegal substances to, among others, a person under 21, and a pregnant woman. The conspiracy utilized residences at 12 Bishop St., 631 Newland Ave., 711 Newland Ave., 158 Sampson St., and 20 W. Cowden Place, all in Jamestown, to manufacture and distribute drugs.

In addition, the grand jury charged Giselle Bennett with obstruction of justice after she concealed information regarding the drug use of an individual identified as “J.A.,” her acquisition of narcotics, as well as the circumstances surrounding a visit by Beardsley to “J.A.’s” residence that had been shared with her during an October 2019 testimony before the grand jury.

She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. Beardsley, Tedesco, Hagga, Reeves, Gordon and Bennett were detained. Garland Beardsley was released on conditions.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Acting Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.

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