What started as a December 2022 drug raid has now turned into a sex trafficking sting as well.

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Thursday that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Zaid Mendoza a/k/a Diamond, 45, Cora Waddington, 24, and Kelvin O. Thomas, 41, all of Jamestown, with narcotics conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force and coercion, sex trafficking by force and coercion, and using and maintaining a drug-involved premises. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. In addition, defendants Mendoza and Waddington are charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and Mendoza is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Thursday’s federal charges stem from two December 14, 2022, drug raids in Jamestown and Falconer.

Search warrants were served at three locations: 628 Spring St. and 15 W. Cowden St. in Jamestown and 252 W. Main St. in Falconer with 19 total people charged by officers from the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, investigators with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the Ellicott Police Department. Waddington and Mendoza were among those charged.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Maeve E. Huggins, who are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s office, said the indictment alleges Mendoza, Waddington and Thomas conspired to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Jamestown area, using a residence on West Main Street in the town of Ellicott to conduct their alleged drug trafficking activities. In addition, between October and December 2022, the three are accused of conspiring to force individuals to engage in commercial sex acts.

The investigation has expanded over the past year. It still involves the Jamestown Police Department Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson; the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone; and the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.. Additional agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division; and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarantino III, New York Field Division. The investigation is also assisted by the Western New York Human Trafficking Task Force, a multi-disciplinary task force that brings law enforcement and social service agencies together to identify and investigate human trafficking utilizing a victim centered and trauma informed response, was also part of this effort.

The investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the criminal organizations.

The charges are also the third time federal charges have been brought against Mendoza in relation to at least two separate incidents. In November, a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Mendoza with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Investigators executed a search warrant at Mendoza’s residence on Dec. 7, 2022, and recovered $1,800, about 36 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine. Also recovered were a semi-automatic pistol, drug packaging paraphernalia and cell phones. Mendoza, who was taken into custody at the scene, was allegedly found to be in possession of another 36 grams of fentanyl. Those charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The US. Attorney’s Office also sent a news release in May 2023 stating Mendoza was charged by federal criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. That incident included an Oct. 6, 2022, traffic stop by Jamestown police officers of a vehicle in which Mendoza was riding. A pat down of Mendoza resulted in the seizure of a bag of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine.

In October 2014, Mendoza was convicted of a felony in Chautauqua County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Waddington, meanwhile, was among four charged in July 2022 following a narcotics investigation and raid of 854 Prendergast Ave., Jamestown. Inside the home, police recovered 53 grams of fentanyl, 41 grams of methamphetamine, 30 units of LSD, mushrooms, suboxone, cocaine, scales, packaging material, cash, a switchblade knife, a shotgun and a bullet proof vest.

Waddington was charged then with second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.