Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling
the case, stated that on November 21, 2018, Customs and Border
Protection officers examined a parcel at the Chicago, Illinois, post office
addressed to “T Finver,” with a residence in Hamburg, NY. The parcel was from
Germany and the sender information was fictitious. The package field tested
positive for cocaine.
Subsequently, two similar packages addressed to the
defendant sent from California were located by U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspectors
in Rochester. One of the packages field tested positive for heroin, the other
contained cocaine.
On December 15, 2018, during review of incoming mail in
Hamburg, Postal Inspectors located a fourth parcel addressed to “T Finver.” On
December 17, 2018, Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations
arranged for a controlled delivery of the parcel. A U.S. Postal Inspector
acting in an undercover capacity delivered the parcel and other mail addressed
to “Torin FINVER.” After knocking on the front door, the Postal Inspector
encountered the defendant and handed over the parcel and the mail. Finver was
arrested at the scene.
During an interview with investigators, the defendant stated
that he ordered “dark web” packages of heroin and cocaine from the Dream Market
marketplace, seven times over two months. Finver used Bitcoin to pay for the
narcotics.
“While Dr. Finver’s situation sadly illustrates just how
powerful the disease of addiction can be,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy, “this
prosecution is in furtherance of the national consensus—expressed in the
federal law—which recognizes that the importation of illegal drugs is wrong and
that their use is something that is also wrong and deeply destructive (as
opposed to a choice like any other). While we fully support the continued
expansion of treatment and prevention efforts, this Office will steadfastly
uphold the rule of law, and in so doing, we will continue to seek to instill a
sense of optimism which rejects the inevitability of addiction.”
The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland
Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin
Kelly, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Boston
Division Inspector-in-Charge Joseph W. Cronin. Additional assistance was
provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Chicago, Illinois. Sentencing
is scheduled for May 20, 2020, before Judge Vilardo.
