2 men arrested, charged with selling oxycodone

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Two men were arrested and charged with possession, distribution and importation of oxycodone into the United States. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $1 million. Joseph Julien, 56, of Stevensville, Ontario, and Kevin Hinca, 20, of Depew, N.Y., have both been charged.

According to court documents, in April 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into the large scale trafficking of prescription medication from Canada into the Buffalo-area. According to the complaint, between September and October 2011, the DEA utilized a confidential source to make three undercover purchases of 140 pills from Hinca. Also according to the complaint, Hinca was getting the pills from Julien. It is estimated that Julien provided at least 10,000 pills for distribution in the Buffalo-area over the last year.

Hinca and Julien made an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. Judge Schroeder ordered the defendants to be detained. Julien is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 17, 2011 at 2 p.m.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, the Lancaster Police Department, the Amherst Police Department, the Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County Sheriff's Department.