Two Jamestown Men Plead Guilty For Their Roles In Heroin/Fentanyl Conspiracy

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Justin Yuchnitz, 29, and Brandon Andino, 38, both of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo for their roles in a Jamestown drug conspiracy. Yuchnitz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin and fentanyl, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1,000,000. Andino pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that defendant Yuchnitz sold heroin and fentanyl that he received from co-defendant Joseph Zaso, utilizing electronic media, such as Facebook and CashApp, to carry out his drug trafficking activities. For example, in February 2021, he utilized his CashApp account to pay $2000 to Zaso to cover his drug debts. During the conspiracy, defendant Andino distributed large amounts of heroin and fentanyl that he also received from Joseph Zaso. Andino also distributed heroin and fentanyl on behalf of Zaso to Zaso’s associates and customers.

Co-defendants Brian Cessna, Denver Komenda, and Richard Philbrick were previously convicted. Co-defendants Joseph Zaso and Kyle Lewis are scheduled to go to trial in February 2024.

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 sentencings are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James B. Quattrone.

Yuchnitz is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., which Andino is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., both before Judge Vilardo.

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