2 Charged In Dealing Drugs That Led To 4 LI Deaths In 1 Day: Feds

NORTH FORK, NY — Two men have been charged in an indictment for distributing drugs, including fentanyl, that led to the deaths of four people on the North Fork last August, federal officials said.

According to the United States Department of Justice, a seven-count indictment was unsealed Thursday in federal court in Central Islip charging Marquis Douglas, 36, of Riverhead, also known as “Prince” and “President,” and Jesse Pace, 38, of Riverhead, also known as “Jah,” with conspiring to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and crack cocaine.

The indictment also charged Douglas and Pace with distribution of controlled substances resulting in four separate deaths on August 13, 2021, federal officials said.

A deadly batch of fentanyl-laced cocaine led to a rash of eight overdoses and six deaths on the North Fork and Shelter Island over eight days, police said last year.

The indictment also separately charged Douglas with the possession of fentanyl and cocaine in Suffolk County in May, 2022, officials said.

Pace was arrested Thursday morning and was slated to be arraigned Thursday afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione; Douglas, who was already in federal custody on related charges, will be arraigned at a later date, federal officials said.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York field office, and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the charges.

“The defendants’ drug sales caused four overdose deaths in a single day last summer, contributing to the tragic history of the opioid epidemic that has claimed too many lives on Long Island,” Peace said. “It is our hope that the federal prosecution of Douglas and Pace will bring some solace to the families of the four victims who died as a result of the defendants’ actions.”

Peace also thanked the Riverhead Police Department for their help with the investigation.

“Tragically, as overdose deaths continue to rise, people are still peddling these poisons into our communities. Fortunately our focus on the illegal drug epidemic hasn't waned, and bringing Douglas and Pace to justice shows our pursuit of these dealers hasn't either,” Driscoll said.

“We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their assistance in helping us get these dangerous drug dealers off of our streets,” Tierney. “These defendants, while in federal custody, will no longer be able to sell fentanyl and other dangerous drugs to unwitting customers and pose a danger to the community.”

The charges stemmed from Douglas and Pace distributing cocaine and a fentanyl analogue, flourofentanyl, which led to a series of overdose deaths on the East End last summer, officials said.

According to the indictment and other court filings, Douglas and Pace engaged in a years’ long conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, 280 grams of crack cocaine, 40 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of a fentanyl analogue, federal officials said.

In August, 2021, Douglas and Pace distributed cocaine laced with a fentanyl analogue in Greenport, officials said.

When their drugs were re-distributed at the street level, it caused four fatal overdoses on August 13, 2021; the bodies were found the following day, prosecutor said.

Also, while traveling as a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic infraction in Suffolk County on May 5, 2022, Douglas was found in possession of distribution quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, federal officials said.

Candles flickering in the fading light, a silent crowd gathered in August for a vigil at Greenport's Mitchell Park to mourn the lost and comfort one another in the wake of the unthinkable.

Arms wrapped around one another for support, faces marked by pain, members of the Greenport business community and residents stood for six minutes of silence to remember the six lives cut short by the scourge on sleepy village streets.

The vigil was organized by Reese Dunne who said it was important to come together at a time when so many are hurting. "Just like our candles their souls will continue to burn on," she said.

Joan Olszewski, who lost her grandson Seth Tramontana, stood at the vigil with his brokenhearted brother, whose face was streaked with tears as friends came to wrap their arms around him.

Her grandson Seth, Olszewski said, lived with her; he was just 27 years old. He, along with others who died, was a member of the Greenport's hospitality community canvas, working at Fortino's Tavern and at Green Hill Kitchen in past years.

Everyone loved him, she said. "He was like the mayor of Greenport," she said softly. "He was the life of the party. He didn't have a bad bone in his body. He had a beautiful spirit."

Reflecting on his short life, Olszewski said her grandson gave her 27 years of beautiful memories, of joy. "He's going to live on," she said. "His spirit is already living on, in all of these people."

According to Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, there were seven overdoses and five deaths on the North Fork and one overdose and death on Shelter Island. The majority were attributed to cocaine laced with fentanyl, he said.

Also in August, 2021, two drug dealers arrested and charged in connection with the string of overdoses, six fatal, that rocked the North Fork and Shelter Island, were arraigned.

Lavain Creighton, 51, who lives on Front Street in Greenport, was arrested at his home, Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Jake Kubetz said. He was charged with six counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, including the sale of narcotics that caused two fatal overdoses, former Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Creighton, who was remanded to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility without no option for bail due to two prior convictions, faces a sentence of 54 years in jail if convicted on all charges, Sini said.

Sini said at least two of the other fatal overdoses might be linked to Creighton.

A second defendant, Justin Smith, 46, of Smithtown, was arraigned in Central Islip, Sini said, adding that Creighton reportedly received his drug supply from Smith, who was also found with drug paraphernalia.

Smith was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; and two counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said. Smith was also charged with five counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and other lesser offenses in connection with a separate investigation; he was arrested and charged with the current offenses while out on bail, Sini said.

Smith was found with a half-ounce of fentanyl, 638 milligrams of cocaine, scales, a drug ledger, and more than 20,000 in cash, Sini said.

New "Death by Dealer" legislation was proposed by Senator Todd Kaminsky that would mean, if a dealer sold drugs that resulted in death, they would be facing charges of homicide in either the first or second degree, Sini said. Penalties would be a minimum of 15 years to life and a maximum of 25 years to life, Sini said.

"It's very simple, if you sold drugs and they cause death, you will be held liable," Sini said.

Discussing the two fatal overdoses Creighton's narcotics sales were reportedly linked to, Sini said on August 13, at 12:30 p.m., Southold Town Police responded to a fatal overdose on Rocky Point Road in East Marion; numerous text messages were reported on a phone belonging to the victim, known as "ML," and Creighton, with 13 sales from July 9 to August 12. A surveillance camera from a nearby business captured ML's car driven in the direction of Creighton's residence at 9:21 on August 12, he said.

A text exchange showed Creighton telling ML, who said he was with his dog, to "come up."

Another text, from a different person, came in later, saying, "I think there was fentanyl in that," Sini said. "Presumably, that text was received too late and he was already dead."

On August 13 at 10:16 p.m., Shelter Island Police responded to the scene of a fatal overdose on Shore Road, Sini said.

"SB" of Shelter Island, had messages on his cell phone from Creighton prior to his death" as well as numerous voice communications, Kubetz said.

Pridwin chef Swainson Brown died of an overdose on Shelter Island, but he was not specifically named in court, referred to only as SB, officials said. SB reportedly took a ferry from Shelter Island to Greenport, went to Creighton's home and back to the ferry in a span of 30 minutes, Kubetz said.
Powder recovered SB's his home also tested positive for narcotics, Kubetz said. The package was wrapped in foil, just like the evidence in the other undercover sales; Creighton admitted to using tinfoil, Kubetz said.

Flatley said the two weeks were long for the devastated families of those who died, the dispatch officers who "took the frantic 911 calls," the first responders that tried to administer Narcan, and the ambulance and fire departments that did the transports. "It takes a toll on everyone," he said. "Especially in small towns like Southold and Shelter Island."

Sini said at the time that drugs were more deadly than ever, with fentanyl becoming commonplace.

"If you bought drugs, you are playing Russian roulette with your life," he said. "This is an incredibly dangerous drug market. Using drugs is dangerous. But using drugs in 2021 in the United States of America is a death wish."