Five city residents face federal drug conspiracy charges that carry a minimum of 10 years in prison – but that alleged operation has ties to another longstanding case involving drug trafficking between Buffalo and Jamestown. .

The indictment announced Thursday by acting U.S. Attorney Joel Louis Violanti late Thursday. Andres Pizzaro Campos a/k/a Kiki, 33, Max Pizzaro Campos, 34, Cindy Frank, 52, Edward Leeper a/k/a Edward Barnes. 46, and Jaquez L. Thomas a/k/a Quez, 21, were all charged with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.

In addition, Andres and Max Pizzaro Campos are also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and maintaining a drug involved premises, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison that runs consecutively to any other penalty. Cindy Frank is also charged with obstruction of justice.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, said according to the indictment, between 2018 and May 26, 2022, Andres Campos, Max Campos, Frank, Leeper and Thomas conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area. Andre and Max Pizarro Campos are accused of utilizing a Hazzard Street residence and possessing firearms to conduct their drug trafficking activities. In addition, on July 26, 2023, Cindy Frank allegedly falsely testified, concealing her knowledge of Joseph S. Zaso’s drug trafficking activities.

Zaso, also known as Joey Cracks, also known as Sosa of Buffalo pleaded guilty in May 2024 before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to narcotics conspiracy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and concealment of material fact. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum of life in prison. He is still awaiting sentencing.

Zaso, the leader of the drug trafficking activity, was the source of supply for several Jamestown drug dealers, and used a series of dealers and runners to facilitate his operation. During the conspiracy, Zaso possessed firearms to protect his supply of narcotics, from which he obtained substantial income and resources, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. On May 26, 2022, search warrants were executed at his Buffalo residence, during which investigators seized drug paraphernalia.

During the conspiracy, Zaso was under the supervision of U.S. Probation in the Western District of New York, following a 2015 conviction in the Eastern District of Michigan. Zaso was required to submit monthly reports to U.S. Probation, which included information about his employment. Zaso signed and submitted monthly reports falsely reporting his employment. Zaso also falsely concealed his income and the existence of bank accounts under his control in addition to lying about his employment. Zaso did not report his actual income because most of it was derived from drug trafficking.

Three other Jamestown residents – Kyle Jensen, Holly Berenguer and Richard Philbrick, have already been convicted along with Zaso in federal court. Jensen has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of narcotics conspiracy. and are awaiting sentencing.

Charges in both operations are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation aimed at dismantling criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.

Three of those indicted Thursday have been the subject of prior cases in the Jamestown area. Frank was charged in October 2017 with criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of drug paraphernalia after a drug raid in Jamestown. More than 29 grams of cocaine and three handguns were seized after the 2017 raid on Hedges Avenue in Jamestown.

Leeper was sentenced in 2016 to one to three years in prison after being convicted of second-degree attempted strangulation after a 2015 incident on Fulton Street, Jamestown. In July 2021 Leeper was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree obstructing governmental administration, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated family offense and two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation after a well-being check by city police officers. Leeper allegedly attempted to prevent officers from investigating a domestic incident. When officers searched the residence they allegedly found a was in a bedroom closet along with ammunition. Leeper is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess any weapons.

Thomas was charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree obstructing governmental administration following a drug raid on Allen Street in July 2022. Thomas allegedly ran from police when they entered the home, but he was caught a short distance away, Then, he was charged about a month later with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon after a drug raid on Stowe Street, Jamestown, in August 2022.