A Buffalo man faces a federal fentanyl charge after investigators said two controlled purchases in July and August involved more than 60 grams of the drug.
James McClain, 42, also known as Jungle, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and distributing 40 grams or more, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York said Thursday.
According to the complaint, investigators arranged an undercover purchase of about 12 grams of suspected fentanyl from McClain in July. Laboratory testing later identified the substance as fentanyl, prosecutors said.
Investigators conducted a second controlled purchase in August involving about 50 grams of suspected fentanyl. That substance also tested positive for fentanyl, according to the complaint.
McClain appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah McCarthy and was ordered detained.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years and a fine of up to $5 million. Those penalties describe the possible statutory range and are not a sentence in the case.
The FBI's Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Allen Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney MacCaelin Sedita is prosecuting the case.
The criminal complaint states accusations that must be resolved in federal court.
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