Sixteen people... most from Jamestown... arrested during federal drug trafficking bust...
Sixteen people have been arrested for allegedly trafficking about $300,000 worth of methamphetime intially brought in through Mexico over the past several months. That from Chief of the Criminal division of the U-S Attorney's Office, Joseph Karaszewski... who says 10 of them face federal drug trafficking charges following three raids that took place on Tuesday as part of "Operation Melt Down." Karaszewski says there were three federal raids -- two in Jamestown and one in Randolph. He adds there were also six state warrants executed during the operation. Karaszewski says the eight people arrested on federal charges Monday face charges including conspiracy to traffic... and, distribute 50 grams or more of Meth. He says the two leaders of the operation... Jamell Trapp and Marcus Bowman of Fredonia... were arrested Monday during a sting operation involving the U-S Postal System. Both face several major charges... including possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Karaszewski says agents intercepted a package containing "high-grade" Meth from Southern California. He says all 16 are jailed pending further court action. Karaszewski says they began investigating the matter last November.