A Jamestown man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for his involvement in a drug trafficking ring that operated in the Jamestown area between late 2018 and March 2020. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross announced Wednesday that 34-year-old Charles Lawson entered his plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl. The plea was the result of an investigation by the DEA and Jamestown Police Department and was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.
Prosecutors say Lawson conspired with others to sell heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine between January and March 2020. Lawson was a close associate of Rocco Beardsley and actively assisted Beardsley’s drug trafficking activities. He used Facebook to advertise and sell Beardsley’s heroin, fentanyl and meth, and he received narcotics for personal use from Beardsley as compensation for his services. On January 23, 2020, investigators conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Beardsley, and Lawson participated in the purchase…