PATERSON, NJ – Wyzier Peterson, 25, of Paterson, New Jersey, admitted today to supplying the fentanyl that killed another person, according to federal prosecutors. Peterson pleaded guilty via video conference before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to one count of distribution of fentanyl relating to a fatal overdose.
The grim details, laid out in court documents, reveal that on June 30, 2019, Peterson sold a mix of heroin and fentanyl to the victim. The victim subsequently ingested the deadly combination, resulting in their death. The case underscores the lethal consequences of the rampant fentanyl crisis gripping the nation.
Peterson now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a staggering $1 million fine. His sentencing is currently scheduled for March 29, 2023. While a guilty plea doesn’t guarantee the maximum sentence, it’s a significant step towards accountability for a crime that devastated a family and fueled the opioid epidemic.
This investigation was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, a multi-agency initiative designed to dismantle high-level criminal organizations. OCDETF utilizes a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven approach, pooling resources from various federal, state, and local agencies.
The investigation involved a collaborative effort by special agents and task force officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Newark Field Division; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the N.J. State Police; the Paterson Police Department; and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Support was also provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and the Belleville and Livingston police departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit, is prosecuting the case. The government’s pursuit of justice in this matter sends a clear message: those who profit from peddling poison and contributing to overdose deaths will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced the guilty plea.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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