Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 45-year-old Eddie Fields of Buffalo has been sentenced by Erie County Court Justice Thomas P. Franczyk to nine years in prison plus five years post-release supervision for possessing fentanyl. 

In June, the defendant pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree. 

On April 21, 2017, Erie County Sheriff’s detectives executed a search warrant signed by Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to search an apartment located at 28 Williamstown Ct. in the Town of Cheektowaga for illegal narcotics. During the raid of the apartment, Fields was found to be in possession of a large amount of fentanyl.   

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid or painkiller. It’s about 100 times more powerful than morphine, and between 30-50 times more powerful than heroin.  It’s also a driving force behind the drug epidemic which has caused the number of opioid related deaths to spike in Erie County and across the nation.  Fentanyl is often used to cut heroin, resulting in lethal consequences. 

“This defendant is where he belongs - locked up and no longer a danger to the community,” says DA Flynn. “We will continue to take a hard line against drug dealers who peddle this poison and are contributing to the opiate epidemic.” 

DA Flynn commends Detectives Daniel J. Granville, Timothy Donovan and Detective Timothy Carney for their thorough investigation. 

Assistant District Attorney Justin T. Wallens of the DA’s Narcotics Unit prosecuted the case.