BUFFALO – A 15th person has been indicted by a federal grand jury after being named with 14 others in a 42-count indictment as part of Operation Meltdown II.
Henry Stovall Jr., was indicted for charges of methamphetamine conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, methamphetamine, and using and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine, according to U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr.
Stovall was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being detained.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Astorga and Emmanuel Ulubiyo, who are handling the case, said that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, all 15 defendants are accused of operating a drug trafficking organization, primarily involving methamphetamine, in the Jamestown area, since March 2017.
During the execution of search warrants throughout the investigation, law enforcement officers recovered 10 firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition, over 20 cellular telephones, drug paraphernalia, and U.S. currency.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Gary Loeffert, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Harry Snellings.
