Home / Crime and Justice / LI Man Indicted for Drugs Capable of Killing 2 Million
LI Man Indicted for Drugs Capable of Killing 2 Million
3 Apr
Summary
- Man indicted on 25 counts for operating as a major drug trafficker.
- Seized drugs could cause overdoses for 2.2 million people.
- Investigation began after a fatal drug overdose in East Patchogue.
Phillip Gonzales, a 42-year-old Long Island resident, was indicted on Thursday on 25 charges related to operating as a major drug trafficker in Suffolk County. The Suffolk County District Attorney's office announced the indictment, revealing a significant seizure of illegal drugs and weapons.
The investigation was initiated following a drug-related death in East Patchogue last month. An undercover operation, described as a 'buy and bust,' led to Gonzales' arrest in February. During his arrest, approximately 7 kilograms of controlled substances and two loaded firearms were recovered.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney stated that the quantity of drugs seized was substantial enough to cause the overdoses of an estimated 2.2 million people. This discovery followed the overdose deaths of two brothers in East Patchogue, one of whom did not survive. Investigators found cocaine and fentanyl in their home.
Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina emphasized the seriousness of such cases, equating overdose investigations to homicides. Cell phones recovered from the brothers' residence reportedly linked Gonzales to the sale of the drugs. Gonzales is facing a potential sentence of 15 years to life in prison and is scheduled for arraignment on Monday.
