ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Richard A. Philbrick, 37, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more fentanyl. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, $10,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that Philbrick bought and sold heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and his own use, and utilized Facebook for his drug trafficking activities. Philbrick used and maintained residences on Newland Avenue in Jamestown for drug trafficking. During the course of the investigation, investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases from Philbrick. On May 4, 2022, during a traffic stop by Jamestown Police, officers recovered drugs and drug paraphernalia, $1,098 in U.S. currency, fentanyl, methamphetamine, morphine pills, hydrocodone pills, buprenorphine pills, psilocybin mushrooms, cellphones, suboxone strips, and a Pellet Gun, on Philbrick’s person and during a search of the vehicle.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea 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 Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
Philbrick’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2023, before Judge Vilardo.