Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Fraud Scheme

Buffalo, N.Y. — Terrance Williams, 45, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty today to obtaining controlled substances through fraud, a central role in a sprawling opioid pipeline that flooded Western New York with fentanyl, oxycodone, and oxymorphone. The plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is prosecuting the case, Williams acted as a conduit for a corrupt medical provider — licensed nurse practitioner Brandon Coburn. Between December 2013 and April 2015, Coburn issued fraudulent prescriptions for powerful opioids to Williams and nine others. None of the prescriptions were for legitimate medical use. Instead, they were funneled directly to the streets of Buffalo, turning a trusted healthcare role into a dealer’s license.

Williams personally filled 28 illegal prescriptions over the 16-month span, fueling addiction and endangering communities. The drugs — including fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine — are linked to dozens of overdoses in the region. Authorities say the network operated under the radar by exploiting the prescribing authority of a licensed medical professional.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, led by Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt of the New York Field Division, ran down the scheme through a long-term investigation. They uncovered a system where patients became pushers, prescriptions became product, and a nurse practitioner became a kingpin by proxy. Eleven individuals were originally charged; Williams is the second to be convicted.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized the danger posed by medical insiders abusing their privileges. “When healthcare professionals betray their oaths to traffic in addiction,” Kennedy said, “they don’t just break the law — they betray entire communities.”

Sentencing for Terrance Williams is scheduled for April 24, 2017, before Judge Arcara. The case underscores the federal crackdown on opioid diversion at the prescription level, where fraud and addiction intersect. The Department of Justice reminds the public that charges are accusations until proven in court, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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