Brandon Coburn, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Fentanyl, New York 2015

Fentanyl Distribution Ring Brought Down in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. - In a significant blow to the opioid epidemic, a nurse practitioner has been sentenced to 108 months in prison for his role in a fentanyl distribution ring.

Brandon Coburn, 34, of West Seneca, NY, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara on May 2015.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, Coburn, who was legally authorized to prescribe controlled substances, provided fraudulent fentanyl, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and amphetamine prescriptions to nine co-defendants between July 2013 and May 2015. These prescriptions were not used for legitimate medical purposes and were instead filled by the co-defendants and sold on the street in the Buffalo area.

Coburn issued a total of 253 prescriptions without any legitimate medical purpose.

To date, eight of the 10 people charged in this case have been convicted. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation that led to Coburn's sentencing was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division.

Contact: Barbara Burns, (716) 843-5817, or Fax: (716) 551-305.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/nurse-practioner-sentenced-drug-charges