Steven Paschell, Fentanyl and Heroin Distribution, NY 2016

Steven Paschell, 47, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, federal prosecutors announced today. The charge, filed under federal law, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.

The takedown stems from a controlled buy on November 1, 2016, when Paschell allegedly sold a quantity of a substance containing both heroin and fentanyl, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Higgins, who is prosecuting the case. The transaction was part of an ongoing investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Buffalo Resident Office.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed the arrest, underscoring the federal crackdown on synthetic opioids fueling the region’s overdose crisis. “We’re targeting those who profit from addiction,” Kennedy said. “Fentanyl is a killer, and dealers putting it on the streets will face severe consequences.”

Paschell made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is currently in custody. A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday, December 16, 2016, at 1:30 p.m., where prosecutors will argue he poses a danger to the community and a flight risk.

The DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John Flickinger, executed the investigation that culminated in the criminal complaint. Sources indicate surveillance, informant cooperation, and lab analysis of the seized substance were key in building the case against Paschell.

The criminal complaint is not a conviction. Steven Paschell is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case continues to be handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.

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