Co-Defendants Sentenced In Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy That Resulted In The Deaths Of Three People

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two co-defendants, James P. Cullen, V., age 32, and Michelle Lindsay Ferranti, age 33, both of Bartonsville, Pennsylvania, were sentenced on September 3, 2026, by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley, for a drug trafficking conspiracy that resulted in death. The Court imposed a sentence of 25 years in prison, as to Cullen, and 20 years in prison, as to Ferranti. Supervised release will follow the prison sentences of both defendants.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, co-defendants Cullen and Ferranti participated in a conspiracy to traffic in fentanyl wherein the drug distribution resulted in the deaths of three individuals. The co-defendants each previously pled guilty to the charges.

"Cullen and Ferranti used the dark web, cryptocurrency and the U.S. mail to distribute deadly fentanyl into communities across the country, and three people lost their lives as a result," said HSI Philadelphia acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel. "Today's sentences reflect the seriousness of their crimes and the strength of HSI Philadelphia's partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. HSI will continue working with our federal, state and local partners to identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks wherever they operate, online or off, and to seek justice for the victims and families devastated by these crimes."

"These sentences reflect the seriousness of using the U.S. Mail to distribute deadly narcotics." Stated Christopher Nielsen, Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. "The Postal Inspection Service remains committed to identifying and dismantling criminal networks that misuse the mail and holding those responsible accountable. We thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for their exceptional work in bringing this case to a successful conclusion."

This case was the result of a joint investigation between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) into a darknet vendor who was engaged in the sale of opioids over the internet. The opioids were sold in exchange for cryptocurrency and then distributed via the United States Mail. The various parcels containing drugs were sent from locations in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Beginning in October of 2022, undercover agents conducted various purchases from the darknet vendor which were seized and later searched and found to contain fentanyl. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that the darknet vendor profile was being run by co-defendants Cullen and Ferranti. In February of 2023, undercover agents executed a search warrant at the Cullen/Ferranti residence and recovered United States Currency, various electronic devices, drug ledgers consistent with narcotics distribution, cryptocurrency cold storage wallets, and controlled substances themselves. Law enforcement identified almost 1,000 entries in the drug ledgers, dating back to the summer of 2021, mailed to 49 states and various countries overseas. Upon seizing Cullen and Ferranti's drug ledgers, law enforcement was able to further their investigation to connect shipments that were mailed out to three different people in three different states who ultimately died as a result of overdosing on the drugs that Cullen and Ferranti distributed.

The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case.

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