Dealer Pleads Guilty To Selling Drugs That Killed Local Trans Activist

BROOKLYN, NY — Brooklynite Michael Kuilan pleaded guilty to a charge that he distributed heroin and fentanyl, including a lethal dose that he gave to local transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, in federal court on Monday.

Kuilan also pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing a firearm, joining his co-defendant Antonio Venti, who pleaded guilty to the same charges this summer, federal court officials said.

“The perpetrators of the tragic poisoning of Cecilia Gentili, a prominent leader of the New York transgender community, have now both admitted their guilt in selling the lethal drugs that have caused this heartbreaking death,” United States Attorney Breon Peace said after the guilty plea was announced.

Gentili died on Feb. 6 in her bedroom in Williamsburg following a lethal combination of substances, including fentanyl, xylazine, cocaine and heroin, court officials said.

The court said that it found texts and other evidence that Venti sold Gentili the fentanyl and heroin mixture, which were supplied to Venti by Kuilan.

When law enforcement searched Kuilan's house, they found a handgun and hundreds of baggies of fentanyl, court officials said.

Both Venti and Kuilan agreed they caused Gentili's death, the court said.

"I hope this case will bring a sense of closure to Gentili’s family and serve as a warning that this Office will be relentless in holding fentanyl dealers accountable,” Peace said.

Venti will be sentenced on Oct. 16, and Kuilan will be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2025.