Man indicted on drug charge

Drug involved in overdose death, cops say

By News Staff

ALBANY, N.Y. » Steven M. Boice was indicted Wednesday on a charge of distributing fentanyl that allegedly caused an overdose death in Saratoga County.

Boice, 28 of Saratoga Springs, distributed furanylfentanyl to a person with the initials B.L., who died from ingesting that furanylfentanyl, according to the indictment.

Furanylfentanyl is a fentanyl analogue that the DEA Administrator listed as a Schedule I controlled substance in November 2016.

Boice also faces charges of possessing two firearms, a DPMS Panther Arms semi-automatic rifle and a Mossberg Maverick shotgun, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, as well as possession with intent to distribute the drug.

If convicted of all charges, Boice faces at least 25 years and up to life in prison, as well as post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Boice will be arraigned at a later date. He has been in custody since Feb. 10, 2017, when Saratoga Springs Police arrested him on state charges following a search of his residence.

During the search, Saratoga Springs Police and the DEA located approximately 360 bags containing furanylfentanyl, the semi-automatic rifle and shotgun, and high-capacity ammunition magazines, according to a criminal complaint previously

filed in this case.

This case is being investigated by the DEA and its Capital District Drug Enforcement Task Force, which includes members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office is also assisting in the investigation.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Division, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Saratoga Springs Police Department Chief Gregory Veitch.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.