A federal grand jury has indicted James P. Cullen V, 30, and Michelle L. Ferranti, 31, both of Bartonsville, Pennsylvania, on multiple fentanyl and heroin trafficking charges, including distributing fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of three individuals across the United States. The indictment was unsealed following their arrests, and both defendants remain in custody pending trial.
According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the indictment alleges that Cullen and Ferranti conspired to distribute fentanyl and heroin between April 2021 and February 27, 2023.
Specifically, they are accused of distributing more than 400 grams of fentanyl — equivalent to approximately 16,000 potentially lethal doses.
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The charges also allege that the pair sourced the drugs from coconspirators in New Jersey and marketed them on the Darkweb, using fabricated names to distribute narcotics via mail. The drugs were sent to nearly every U.S. state and several foreign countries. The indictment links the pair to three fatal overdoses caused by fentanyl in Vermont, Georgia, and Alaska, with the victim in Alaska being a juvenile.
In addition to the overdose-related charges, Cullen and Ferranti are accused of distributing fentanyl and heroin on four other occasions between November 2022 and February 2023.
“This case highlights the effectiveness of interagency collaboration,” said Edward Owens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia. “The removal of these dangerous drug traffickers from our streets is a step toward ensuring public safety. These defendants were responsible for three tragic deaths, and this indictment reflects the dedication of law enforcement agencies to dismantle such networks.”
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The investigation involved multiple agencies, including HSI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Customs and Border Protection, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Agencies from Vermont, Georgia, Alaska, and French Customs also assisted.
The case is part of several federal initiatives aimed at combating drug trafficking and overdose deaths, including:
The most serious charges linked to overdose deaths carry penalties under federal law of a minimum 20-year sentence and up to life imprisonment, along with supervised release and substantial fines. Sentences will be determined by a judge based on federal statutes and sentencing guidelines.
- Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN): Focused on reducing violent crime and building trust in communities.
- Heroin Initiative: A coordinated effort targeting heroin traffickers in the Middle District of Pennsylvania as part of the nationwide fight against the heroin epidemic.
- Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF): A program designed to identify and dismantle high-level drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations.
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