Buffalo Man Going To Jail For Nearly 20 Years For Distributing Fentanyl, Final Defendant To Be Sentenced In Fentanyl Conspiracy

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Calvin Elston, Jr., 41, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 235 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who handled the case, stated that between July 2013 and May 2015, the defendant conspired with co-defendants Brandon Coburn, Jennifer L. Courton, Rodney Courton, John Davis, Samuel Nappo, Tashaira Vazquez, Terrance Williams, Johanna Sanchez-Rodriquez, Luis Diaz, and others, to distribute fentanyl, oxymorphone, oxycodone, and amphetamines, Schedule II controlled substances.

Over the course of the conspiracy, Elston obtained prescriptions in his own name, and in the names of others, from co-defendant Brandon Coburn, a former nurse practitioner. Neither he, nor the others, ever saw Coburn for treatment. The defendant and co-defendant, Jennifer L. Courton, would then recruit various individuals who would agree to go to pharmacies to submit prescriptions. These individuals, including Rodney Courton, John Davis, Jessica Howard, Samuel Nappo, Tashaira Vazquez, Terrance Williams, Johanna Sanchez-Rodriquez, Luis Diaz, and others, would be paid money for their services. Coburn would also be paid for writing each prescription.

In total, from July 2013 to May 2015, 253 prescriptions were issued by co-defendant Coburn without any legitimate medical purpose.

A total of 10 defendants have been convicted and sentenced in this case:

• Brandon Coburn-108 months
• Jennifer Courton-180 months
• Rodney Courton-57 months
• John Davis-32 months
• Samuel Nappo-30 months
• Tashaira Vazquez-24 months
• Terrance Williams-20 months
• Johanna Sanchez Rodriquez-18 months
• Luis Diaz-24 months

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Ray Donovan, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division.

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