A Jamestown man faces life in prison after a federal grand jury indicted him on a string of serious charges, including sex trafficking, kidnapping, and drug distribution.
Edward E. Leeper, Jr., also known as Edward E. Barnes, Jr., 47, was charged with attempting and committing sex trafficking, kidnapping, aiding and abetting, distributing fentanyl, and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 years, with a maximum of life behind bars.
The indictment, announced December 5 by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, is part of a broader investigation into violent crime and drug activity in the Western District of New York.
Allegations span five years and eight victims
Prosecutors say Leeper trafficked or attempted to traffic eight victims between 2019 and 2024, using force and threats. He is also accused of kidnapping those individuals.
According to the indictment, Leeper operated out of a residence on Broadhead Avenue in Jamestown, where he allegedly distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine.
In a separate federal case, Leeper is also charged with conspiring with others, including Joseph S. Zaso, to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area between 2018 and May 2022.
Call for information
Law enforcement is asking the public to come forward. Anyone who may have been victimized by Leeper or has information about his alleged crimes is encouraged to call Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
Part of a national DOJ initiative
The case is being prosecuted under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice effort targeting illegal immigration, violent crime, and transnational criminal organizations. The operation brings together resources from the DOJ’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the Jamestown Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities remind the public that charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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