New York federal authorities have charged Frankie Beqiraj with conspiracy to distribute a deadly mix of drugs, including heroin, which allegedly led to the tragic deaths of Robert Vivolo and Leonides Madrid.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim announced the unsealing of an indictment against Beqiraj, who appeared in Manhattan federal court today before Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses. He was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
The indictment charges Beqiraj with selling at least one kilogram of heroin, as well as cocaine, oxycodone, and alprazolam between July 2016 and January 2017. The drugs were linked to the overdose deaths of Robert Vivolo, 25, in the Bronx on October 21, 2016, and Leonides Madrid, 28, in New Rochelle on January 9, 2017.
Beqiraj, 27, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. Assistant United States Attorneys David W. Denton Jr. and Elizabeth Hanft are handling the prosecution.
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill highlighted the significance of the case, stating that ‘Beqiraj will be held accountable for the drugs he allegedly peddled and the tragic deaths that resulted.’ NRPD Commissioner Patrick Carroll echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collaborative efforts in the fight against the opioids epidemic.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and Beqiraj is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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