Fentanyl Dealers Busted Over Deadly Overdoses

Deirdre M. Daly, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, has announced that three New Haven men have been charged with distributing fentanyl that led to a spate of overdoses, including three deaths, in the city last June.

Frank Pina, 57, and Jerome Clay, Sr., 55, were arrested yesterday on federal criminal complaints charging each with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Steven Whaley, 48, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances.

The three defendants appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven and are detained. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration and New Haven Police Department are investigating the drug overdoses of 17 individuals that occurred in New Haven on June 23, 2016. Three of the victims died, and four victims remain hospitalized.

The investigation has revealed that many or all of the victims believed the substance they were consuming was cocaine. However, based in part on DEA laboratory testing, it appears that the substance was pure fentanyl, a powerful opioid that can be at least 50 times more powerful than heroin. Naloxone, an emergency drug used to treat opioid overdoses, was effective in treating at least some of the victims, which indicates that the ingested substance was an opioid and not cocaine.

It is alleged that Pina, Clay, and Whaley supplied drugs to at least 12 of the individuals who overdosed on June 23, 2016, including at least two victims who died. “Without the combined effort of federal and local law enforcement, emergency medical personnel and city officials, a terrible public health crisis could have been much worse,” said U.S. Attorney Daly.

“Anytime there is a loss of life involving a drug overdose it is a tragic event; but even more so in this case given the number of victims in less than one day,” said Special Agent in Charge Ferguson. “Those suffering from the disease of fentanyl and heroin addiction need access to treatment and recovery. But, those responsible for distributing these lethal drugs like fentanyl and purporting it to be cocaine to the citizens of New Haven need to be held accountable for their actions.”

“New Haven Police detectives and the Criminal Intelligence Unit worked flat out from Thursday afternoon through this weekend to save New Haven lives and track down the individuals responsible for dealing these drugs,” said Chief Esserman. “I could not be more proud of them. I am just as grateful to our federal partners for working side by side with us. We came together in a time of emergency and stopped the dying.”