HOMICIDE BY DRUG DEALING
Central Islip, NY – A Long Island man has pleaded guilty to distributing heroin that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old college student and serious bodily injury to another young woman.
Richard Jacobellis, 24, of Ridge, New York, admitted to distributing heroin in 2016 that killed Nicholas Weber, a 20-year-old student from Kings Park, and seriously injured Frances Theiling in 2015. Weber, a graduate of Kings Park High School, was a champion wrestler who attended Suffolk County Community College and was set to study physics at Stony Brook University before his tragic death.
According to court filings and Jacobellis’ statements during his guilty plea, the defendant was selling narcotics as early as 2012. In 2015, he provided heroin that nearly killed Theiling, who was saved by Suffolk County Police Department officers. One year later, knowing that his heroin had almost killed Theiling, Jacobellis sold the heroin that killed Weber.
“Jacobellis admitted to poisoning people on Long Island by distributing heroin for years, even after his drugs took one life and nearly took another,” stated United States Attorney Richard P. Donoghue. “The defendant’s conviction in this case will not bring back Nicholas Weber, but it will send a message to others who may consider selling drugs that this Office will bring to justice those who contribute to the opioid epidemic and hold them accountable for the harm they cause.”
As part of his guilty plea, Jacobellis agreed to a specific sentence of 192 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, subject to the Court’s approval. Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Caffarone and Nicholas Moscow are in charge of the prosecution.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Suffolk County Police Department (“SCPD”) were also instrumental in the case, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office thanking them for their partnership and outstanding work.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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