Dallas man convicted of distributing counterfeit pharmaceuticals resulting in death by overdose | USAO-EDTX

PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking offenses in the Eastern District of Texas, Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced today.

Gary Collin Bussell, 52, pleaded guilty on January 26, 2021 to possession with intent to distribute and distributing controlled substances and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan.

“The Eastern District of Texas remains committed to continuing the fight against illegal narcotics on all fronts,” Acting US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said. “This case is a sad reminder that the recreational use of prescription drugs – counterfeit or not – can present enormous risks to the user, including overdose and death. EDTX continues to partner with the DEA in the fight against the trafficking of counterfeit and illegally obtained pharmaceuticals.

According to information presented to the court, on December 28, 2018, a 29-year-old Fairview resident died of an overdose of fentanyl and alprazolam. During the investigation into the death, federal drug enforcement officers learned that Bussell was involved in the large-scale purchase and distribution of various pharmaceutical drugs. Bussell personally dispensed medication and asked others to dispense medication on his behalf. Among his deals, Bussell distributed fentanyl and alprazolam which caused the victim’s overdose death.

Another accused, William Grant Allbrook, 34, of the colony, was a distributor of counterfeit drugs in the Dallas area. Allbrook acquired counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs from another defendant, Peter Yin, 38, of Garland, and distributed these drugs to Bussell and others on behalf of Bussell’s organization.

Earlier this week, Allbrook and Yin were each sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for their role in the drug trafficking plot.

This pursuit is part of a Strike Force Initiative of the Drugs Against Organized Crime (OCDETF), which includes the establishment of permanent multi-agency task forces that work side by side in one location. . This co-located model allows agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle major drug dealers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations.

This matter has been investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Dallas Police Department, Fairview Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service-CI. This case was continued by US Assistant Prosecutor Jay Combs.

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