BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 38-year-old Buffalo man has been indicted on federal charges tied to a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred nearly a decade ago. Carlique DeBerry is charged with distribution of fentanyl causing death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, crimes that carry a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison, up to life behind bars, and a $1,000,000 fine.
The indictment, announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr., alleges that on February 25, 2016, DeBerry distributed a quantity of fentanyl to an individual identified only as R.G., who died after using the drug. The case hinges on the deadly consequences of that single transaction, placing DeBerry at the center of a federal prosecution under strict drug-induced death statutes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, leading the prosecution, declined to release detailed evidence ahead of trial. A detention hearing originally scheduled before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer was canceled after DeBerry agreed to remain in custody pending resolution of the case. No further court dates have been made public.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt of the New York Field Division, and the Hamburg Police Department, led by Chief Gregory Wickett. Their probe focused on the chain of distribution that delivered the lethal dose to R.G.
Despite the passage of years since the fatal incident, federal authorities stress the enduring reach of drug-related homicide charges. The indictment reflects a broader crackdown on fentanyl traffickers whose supply lines feed into Western New York’s ongoing opioid crisis. Each charge signals a zero-tolerance stance on dealers linked to overdose deaths.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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