Buffalo Fentanyl Dealer Gets One Year

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Another cog in the fentanyl pipeline is off the streets. Jose Alvarez, 26, of Buffalo, was sentenced to 12 months in prison today after being convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, butyryl fentanyl, a Schedule I controlled substance. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, a small victory in a losing war against the poison flooding our communities.

The bust originated on July 27, 2017, when federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) pulled over Alvarez’s vehicle. A search revealed 20 bags of the deadly substance. But the operation didn’t stop there. Investigators quickly traced Alvarez and his associates to a hotel and casino in Salamanca, NY.

A subsequent raid of their hotel room yielded an even larger haul: another 196 bags of butyryl fentanyl. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who prosecuted the case, Alvarez wasn’t a first-time offender. He confessed to selling fentanyl on three separate occasions in Salamanca during May and July of 2017. Each bag represents a potential overdose, a family shattered, a life extinguished.

This wasn’t a solo operation. The investigation, spearheaded by the DEA under Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, and HSI under Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, involved a multi-agency task force. The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, led by Major Edward Kennedy, and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, directed by Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, all played a role in bringing Alvarez to justice.

Twelve months. It’s a drop in the bucket considering the devastation fentanyl wreaks. While Alvarez is behind bars, others are already stepping up to fill the void, eager to profit from addiction and death. This sentence serves as a reminder: the fight against fentanyl is far from over, and the streets remain flooded with danger.

Contact: Barbara Burns, (716) 843-5817, or fax (716) 551-3051 for further information regarding this case. U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. continues to pursue those responsible for bringing these deadly substances into our communities.

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