LI Man Convicted Of Drug Trafficking In Deadly Christmas Overdose

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Selden man, who was accused of supplying the deadly dose of fentanyl that killed a man on Christmas four years ago, was convicted of drug trafficking on Tuesday in Central Islip, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

After a six-day trial, Marlon Thompson, 41, was convicted on all four counts of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base, as well as the distribution of fentanyl that caused the death of Fredrick Koenig, 36, of Selden on Christmas Day 2018, prosecutors said.

Thompson was also convicted of illegal possession of firearms.

He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years to life in federal prison.

Thompson conspired to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base throughout Suffolk between January 2017 through May 2019, and on Christmas Day in 2018, he gave fentanyl to Koenig, who suffered a fatal overdose at his parents’ home in Selden, prosecutors say.

Thompson continued supplying fentanyl, heroin, and crack in Suffolk for months after Koenig’s death, prosecutors said, adding that when he was arrested, law enforcement found fentanyl and drug packaging materials in his basement bedroom, and also seized three illegal guns and ammunition from a storage unit of his.

Evidence included testimony from Thompson’s co-conspirators, text messages between him and drug dealers "discussing their illicit business," as well as drug paraphernalia, and thousands of dollars of bundled bills derived from the drug sales, according to prosecutors.

United States Attorney Breon Peace said Thompson was held accountable for trafficking fentanyl that caused "the tragic overdose death of a young man."

“The large quantities of fentanyl the defendant distributed all over Suffolk County had a devastating impact on the community, including by taking this young man away from his family too soon," he said. "This office, together with our federal and local partners, will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who contribute to this serious problem.”

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino said "the overwhelming number of drug poisonings throughout the United States is a driving force for DEA to bring those responsible to justice."

“Today’s conviction emphasizes the rippling effect of this crisis and its devastation of so many lives," he said, adding, "This investigation is one example of our commitment to families who have lost loved ones and how we work every day to stop drug traffickers like Marlon Thompson.”

Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said Thompson was "responsible for fueling addiction by trafficking powerful narcotics" that led to Koenig's death.

"We will never stop working together with our law enforcement partners to hold these dealers accountable as well as community groups to help the addicted get the assistance they need,” he said.

Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney called the case "a stark reminder of the tragic devastation that the opioid epidemic has inflicted regionally, and specifically upon Suffolk County.”

“My office will continue to work collaboratively with our state and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue and prosecute dealers whose illicit drugs have caused harm or death to others," he said.

Patch has reached out to Thompson's attorney, William Wexler of North Babylon.