Two Lowville men face federal charges for buying too much cold medicine.

Jeffrey A. Sullivan, 43, of 5419 Stewart Lane, and Todd J. Farney, 36, of 7006 Beech Hill Road, were each charged Wednesday with buying pseudoephedrine or ephedrine in an amount exceeding nine grams. Altogether, nine people were charged with buying more medications containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine than the law allows, the U.S. attorney's office in Syracuse said.

The charge falls under the federal Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. The CMEA imposes nationwide controls on cold remedies that contain pseudoephedrine — an ingredient needed for production of methamphetamine — and dramatically expanded U.S. authority over global trade in the chemicals. The act was signed into law in 2006.

Mr. Sullivan is accused of buying about 178 grams of medicine containing ephedrine from Oct. 26, 2006, to March 3, 2008, including around 24 grams from Feb. 3 to Feb. 24 of this year, federal court records said. He also reportedly used a fake address in Port Leyden when signing the log book.

Mr. Farney is accused of buying about 338 grams of medicine containing ephedrine from January 4, 2005, to March 3, 2008, including around 21 grams from Feb. 9 to March 3 of this year, according to federal court records. He also reportedly used a fake address in Rome and two fake names when signing the log book.

Both had made a majority of their cold medicine purchases from Xtra Mart on East Dominick Street in Rome, court records show. Federal officials estimate about 18 boxes of cold medicine, each with 24 tablets, would contain a total of nine grams of pseudoephedrine.

"Our efforts to reduce the demand for, and supply of, methamphetamine has special priority," U.S. Attorney Glenn Suddaby said in a prepared statement. "The enactment of retail controls on the sale and purchase of key methamphetamine precursors such as pseudoephedrine and ephedrine should reduce the amount of products readily available that could be used to manufacture methamphetamine."

To purchase cold or allergy medicines, an individual must produce identification and sign a log book at pharmacies or other businesses that sell the drug. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, along with various area law enforcement agencies, monitor the log books to identify any individuals who buy more than nine grams within 30 days.

Also charged are: William R. Cahill, 34, Cicero; Jonathan D. Decker, 34, Remsen; Judy Durant, 40, Verona; Walter Douglas, 32, Rome; Jessica Seiger, 26, Rome; Michelle Wiggins, 46, Rome, and Robert Murphy, 43, Rome.