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Press Release

Florida Couple Charged with Illegally Distributing Oxycodone in Connecticut

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging HARRY DUREN, 73, and SANDRA DUREN, 53, both of Seminole, Florida, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, oxycodone.

The indictment was returned on October 19, 2016.  The defendants appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and were released on $50,000 bonds.

According to allegations made in court, between approximately January 2005 and July 2016, HARRY and SANDRA DUREN obtained prescriptions for medications containing oxycodone from doctors in Connecticut, including Dr. Paul Bellofiore, and then arranged to resell their medications for their own profit.  The DURENS, who are married, are former Connecticut residents.

If convicted of the charge in the indictment, the defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, which includes officers from the Bristol, Greenwich, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, Shelton, Vernon and Wilton Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi M. Perry.

Updated October 24, 2016

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Prescription Drugs