Two Individuals Plead Guilty To Drug Charge

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

Buffalo, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Sarah J. Greene, 38, and Michael C. Mullen, 35, both of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to manufacture, possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Cullinane, who is handling the case, stated that between January 2011 and late 2014, the defendants conspired to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. Greene and Mullen engaged in the practice of “smurfing” (buying small quantities of) at local pharmacies to get around restrictions on purchasing products containing pseudoephedrine.  This is the most important chemical necessary in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine.

The conviction 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, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Lieutenant Kevin Reyes and Major David Krause, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Delano A. Reid, New York Division, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O’Grady, U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Steven Oldman, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, under the direction of Captain Frank Lauricella.

Greene is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2016; Mullen will be sentenced on December 19, 2016, both before Judge Vilardo.