The U.S. Attorney's Office says a former nurse practitioner issued more than 200 phoney prescriptions for narcotics over the course of two years - and now the last of 10 people charged in the conspiracy has been sentenced.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Adler said Calvin Elston Jr., 41, of Buffalo was convicted of conspiracy for possessing and distributing fentanyl, and will serve nearly 20 years in prison.
Adler said the scam began with former West Seneca NP Brandon Coburn, who wrote the phoney prescriptions for fentanyl, oxymorphone, oxycodone and amphetamines. Colburn and Jennifer Courton then recruited others who agreed to fill the prescriptions at local pharmacies.
Convicted were Rodney Courton, John Davis, Jessica Howard, Samuel Nappo, Tashaira Vazquez, Terrance Williams, Johanna Sanchez-Rodriquez and Luis Diaz, but authorities believe others were also recruited. Adler said they and Coburn were paid for each prescription.
Colburn, who was 34 when sentenced in 2017, is now serving nine years in prison, while Courton, who was 30, is serving 15 years. Others convicted are serving 20-57 months.
