SCRANTON – A Monroe County couple has been charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of three individuals, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
James P. Cullen V, age 30, and Michelle L. Ferranti, age 31, both of Bartonsville, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on various fentanyl and heroin trafficking charges, including for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of three individuals.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to distribute fentanyl and heroin between April 2021 and February 27, 2023. Cullen and Ferranti specifically were charged with distributing in excess of 400 grams of fentanyl, which is the equivalent of approximately 16,000 potentially lethal individual doses of fentanyl.
The indictment also alleges that Cullen and Ferranti obtained fentanyl and heroin from other coconspirators located in New Jersey, marketed the narcotics on the Darkweb, and then used fabricated names to distribute the narcotics. Cullen and Ferranti allegedly mailed fentanyl and heroin to nearly every state in the United States, and to several foreign countries.
As a result, it is alleged that three different individuals located in Vermont, Georgia, and Alaska overdosed and died from the fentanyl between October 2022 and February 2023. The individual in Alaska was a juvenile. In addition, Cullen and Ferranti are charged with distributing fentanyl and heroin on four other occasions between November 2022 and February 2023.
The indictment remained under seal until both defendants were arrested. Cullen and Ferranti remain in custody pending their trial.
Defendant/Respondent: James P. Cullen V, Michelle L. Ferranti
Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death
City and State: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Exact Date: April 2021 – February 27, 2023
Sentence or Outcome: Remains in custody pending trial
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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