BUFFALO, NY – Tashaira Vazquez, 30, of Buffalo, New York, has confessed to her role in a brazen drug trafficking operation fueled by fraudulent prescriptions. Vazquez pleaded guilty today to obtaining controlled substances through fraud before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a potential four-year prison sentence and a hefty $250,000 fine.
The case, spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, reveals a calculated scheme spanning from July 2013 to May 2015. Vazquez wasn’t working alone. The investigation identified Brandon Coburn, a licensed nurse practitioner, as the source of the illicit prescriptions. Coburn, authorized to prescribe controlled substances, allegedly abused his position, providing prescriptions not for legitimate medical needs, but to Vazquez and nine other individuals.
Once filled, these prescriptions – for highly addictive and dangerous drugs including fentanyl, oxycodone, oxymorphone, and amphetamine – weren’t intended for personal use. Vazquez and her co-conspirators flooded the streets of Buffalo with the drugs, turning a profit from the misery of others. Court records show Vazquez personally filled 28 fraudulent prescriptions, demonstrating the scale of her involvement.
This guilty plea marks a significant step forward in dismantling a dangerous operation. Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized the seriousness of the offense. While Vazquez has admitted guilt, authorities remind the public that an accusation remains just that until proven in court. To date, six defendants connected to this investigation have been convicted, but the probe continues.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt of the New York Field Division, conducted the investigation. The DEA’s relentless pursuit of those profiting from the opioid crisis is crucial to stemming the tide of addiction and violence plaguing communities like Buffalo.
Vazquez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 23, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Arcara. Grimy Times will be there to report the outcome. Contact Barbara Burns at (716) 843-5817 or via fax at (716) 551-3051 for further information.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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