Buffalo Women Plead Guilty to Drug Charges

        BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Barbara Moran, 53, and her sister-in-law, Mary Moran, 50, both of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl, before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine or both.

     Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Catherine Baumgarten, who is handling the case, stated that between September, 2012 and May, 2013, Mary Moran sold her prescription fentanyl patches to Barbara Moran, who then sold those fentanyl patches and other controlled substances, from her residence at 93 Pulaski Street in Buffalo. Some of those sales were made to law enforcement officers acting in an undercover capacity.

     The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zach.

     Barbara Moran will be sentenced on June 16, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara. Mary Moran will be sentenced on July 2, 2014 at 12:30 p.m., also before Judge Arcara.