Jamestown man and woman charged with narcotics conspiracy in superseding indictment

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging James Jackson, 39, and Alicia Osar, 37, both of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. In addition, Jackson is charged with maintaining a drug involved premises.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the superseding indictment, between 2018, and February 2025, Jackson and Osar conspired with Ernest W. Brown, Joseph S. Zaso and others, to sell fentanyl. In addition, between 2019, and 2021, Jackson is accused of using a Bush Street residence in Jamestown to manufacture and sell heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Defendant Jackson is being detained, defendant Osar is released on conditions. Defendants Brown and Zaso were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI and the FBI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York.

The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott D. 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.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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