A Jamestown man previously found guilty of felony drug possession stemming from a January 2021 raid has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison. Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley on Monday handed down the sentence to John R. Anzalone.

At trial in September, Anzalone was found guilty of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. His arrest was part of a police investigation into cocaine trafficking in the Jamestown area dubbed “Operation Crazy Ivan.”

The indictment, announced in the spring of 2021, was the result of a search that occurred at a 211 Hazzard St. residence in Jamestown in which investigators reportedly discovered several ounces of powder cocaine, anabolic steroids, scales, packaging materials, ammunition, a money counter and $4,587 in cash.

The search included members of the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force and the FBI. Overall, the probe also included assistance from the Ellicott Police Department and Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.

Anzalone was taken into custody on the indictment in March 2021.

Erik Bentley, assistant district attorney, noted at sentencing that Anzalone “is a piece of the illegal drug system that has taken countless lives.” In a news release, the DA’s office said Bentley also “asked the court to send a message to the people who are a part of that system that the endless cycle of addiction and destruction brought about by dealing drugs will not be tolerated in Chautauqua County.”

In the news release, the Jamestown Police Department also commented, “That the hard work and dedication from all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this case, including the District Attorney’s Office, is the reason for this successful outcome. The Jamestown Police Department and Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to rid our communities of not only drug dealers, but anyone who thinks that they are going to come here and commit crimes. This sentence is a clear indication that if you come to Jamestown to sell drugs and ruin lives, you will be held accountable.”

In addition to state prison, Foley also sentenced Anzalone to five years of post-release supervision.