Hudson Valley Man Trafficked Synthetic Drug 3 Times More Potent Than Fentanyl: DOJ

YONKERS, NY — A Westchester man has been arrested in connection with the distribution of a drug that feds say could mark a deadly turn in the opioid crisis.

Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, announced on Thursday the unsealing of a complaint charging Yonkers resident Miguel de Jesus Reyes Medina a/k/a "Azua," and Erik Albrto Lopez Valdez, of New Jersey, with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of protonitazene, a novel synthetic opioid that is up to three times more potent than fentanyl.

Reyes Medina and Lopez Valdez were arrested on Thursday. Lopez Valdez was scheduled to appear before before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger on Thursday, and Reyes Medina was scheduled to be presented before Judge Lehrburger on Friday.

"As alleged, Miguel de Jesus Reyes Medina and Erik Alberto Lopez Valdez engaged in a scheme to sell dangerous narcotics to New Yorkers, including a novel, and potentially lethal, synthetic opioid," Williams said. "As part of that scheme, the defendants sold protonitazene, which, as alleged, is as much as three times more deadly than fentanyl. This prosecution underscores my Office's unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from the deadly opioid crisis, including from emergent synthetic opioids that pose even greater threats than fentanyl. We will not allow drug dealers to hide behind novel changes to the chemical structure of drugs to avoid prosecution."

According to court documents, in April of this year, Reyes Medina agreed to sell fentanyl to a confidential source working with law enforcement. Reyes Medina negotiated the price and quantity of fentanyl to be sold, asking for $2,000 for 74 grams of fentanyl. On April 10, Reyes Medina met with the source and provided a 74-gram package of narcotics. During the meeting, Reyes Medina said that the narcotics were high quality and strong.

Then, on April 16, Reyes Medina arranged to have Lopez Valdez deliver an additional 420-gram package of narcotics to the source for $12,250, which Lopez Valdez did. After the arrest of Reyes Medina and Lopez Valdez, laboratory testing found that the packages of narcotics provided to the source by the suspects contained nearly 500 grams of protonitazene, a synthetic opioid that is up to three times more potent than fentanyl.

"Today’s arrests show the commitment the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those poisoning our communities," Tarentino said. "As alleged, these individuals are not only responsible for the distribution of the lethal drug fentanyl, but the distribution of protonitazene, a novel synthetic opioid that is up to three times more potent than fentanyl. It is safe to say that the removal of these individuals, and the distribution of these illicit drugs from our streets, saved another family from having to bury their loved one. The DEA and members of our NYDETF remain committed to doing everything we can to bring those responsible to justice."

49-year-old Reyes Medina was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and two counts of distribution of protonitazene, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

38-year-old Lopez Valdez of Camden, New Jersey, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of distribution of protonitazene, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Williams praised the "outstanding work" of the DEA, the NYPD, and the New York State Police in connection with this investigation.