2 Drug Dealers Charged In Fatal Fentanyl Overdose: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY— Two drug dealers have been charged in connection with the fatal fentanyl overdose of a Riverhead man, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini said.

According to Sini, in late April, the Riverhead Town Police Department's patrol division responded to a 911 call regarding an adult male suffering an apparent fatal narcotic overdose.

A preliminary investigation conducted by the Riverhead Police Department's detective squad revealed evidence indicating that the man fatally overdosed on fentanyl, Sini said.

Edward Primavera, 30, of Lake Grove, was arrested and charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a B felony; fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a C felony; and two counts of second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, an A misdemeanor, Sini said.

Brooke Edwards, 35, of Lake Grove, was arrested and charged with two counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a B felony; two counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, an A misdemeanor; and two counts of second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, an A misdemeanor, Sini said.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Task Force conducted an extensive investigation into the origin of the fentanyl, which resulted in the arrest of Primavera and Edwards and the execution of a search warrant at their residence in Lake Grove on Monday Sini said.

The search warrant resulted in the seizure of crack cocaine, fentanyl, $1,521 in cash, and various drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale and packaging materials consistent with drug sales, Sini said.

Primavera and Edwards were arraigned Wednesday and were put on supervised release with drug and alcohol conditions; they are due back in court on July 22, Sini said.

If convicted of the top count, Primavera and Edwards each face a maximum sentence of eight and one-third to 25 years in prison, Sini said.

“Preliminary data has indicated that Suffolk County is experiencing an uptick in overdoses during the pandemic, which is obviously very concerning,” Sini said. “Whenever there is a fatal overdose, we treat that investigation similarly to a homicide; we take immediate steps to try to determine who sold the drugs to that victim. I’ve said many times before that we’re not going to arrest ourselves out of the drug epidemic, but law enforcement will continue to be vigilant and to arrest and prosecute drug dealers who are peddling this poison in our communities."

The Riverhead Police Department thanked the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and its East End Drug Task Force "for their unending diligence in the battle against opioids and especially for this investigation into the recent fatal overdose in the Riverhead area,” said Riverhead Town Police Chief David J. Hegermiller.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney William Nash, of the Narcotics Bureau.