A Staten Island man has been charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced today.
Michael Hitsous, 26, was arrested yesterday and is scheduled to make his initial appearance today before United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold.
According to the indictment, Hitsous sold heroin and fentanyl from his Staten Island home between February 2017 and December 2017, resulting in near-fatal overdoses of two young women.
One of the victims, a 25-year-old woman, overdosed at Hitsous’ residence after ingesting drugs he provided in September 2017. A friend of the victim called emergency medical personnel, who arrived in time to resuscitate her.
Despite the potentially deadly consequences of selling these drugs, Hitsous continued to regularly sell narcotics from his home, allegedly without regard for the harm they caused.
As alleged, Hitsous profited from selling these deadly drugs, and his actions contributed to the opioid crisis in Staten Island and beyond.
“The illegal sale of heroin and fentanyl has caused unimaginable pain to families across Staten Island,” said District Attorney McMahon. “By investigating each overdose and tracing the dangerous narcotics back to the source, law enforcement has been able to hold drug dealers accountable for the lives they have destroyed.”
The arrest was the result of a long-term investigation by the NYPD’s Drug Overdose Task Force, who coordinated numerous controlled narcotics purchases from Hitsous.
The charges against Hitsous are merely allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section, with Assistant United States Attorney David Lizmi in charge of the prosecution.
The defendant’s age is 26, and his residence is Staten Island, New York. The case is being handled in the Eastern District of New York, with the case number E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-MJ-1063.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Justice, drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50, with fentanyl being a major contributor to this trend.
The charges against Hitsous include conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and he faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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