LINDENHURST MAN INDICTED FOR SELLING COCAINE LACED WITH FENTANYL THAT LED TO A FATAL OVERDOSE

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Nicholas Romano, 33, of Lindenhurst, who is accused of selling fentanyl-laced cocaine to a man from Copiague that resulted in his fatal overdose.

“Unfortunately, it appears that the victim here thought he was getting cocaine, but he was instead given a fatal quantity of fentanyl.  Anyone considering using illegal drugs needs to be forewarned – the flood of cheap fentanyl into our communities means that you are most likely receiving fentanyl whether you know it or not,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our office is dedicated to combatting this epidemic by prosecuting those drug dealers who continue to flood Suffolk County with this poisonous substance.”

According to the investigation, on November 16, 2022, at approximately 9:00 p.m., the Suffolk County Police Department responded to a residence in Copiague for an apparent drug overdose after the victim was found unresponsive in his bedroom by family members. The victim was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he ultimately passed away four days later as a result of the overdose.

On November 18, 2022, a cell phone belonging to the victim was obtained by police which allegedly revealed Facebook messages between the victim and an account holder using the name “Nicky Racks,” which was later confirmed to belong to Romano. The messages between the victim and Romano showed that on November 15, 2022 and November 16, 2022, Romano agreed to sell the victim $260 worth of “blow,” a street term used to describe cocaine. On November 16, 2022, at approximately 7:10 p.m., Romano allegedly messaged the victim the location of where they should meet. Less than two hours later, the victim was discovered unresponsive in his bed.

On November 17, 2022, the day after the overdose occurred, the victim’s mother found a plastic bag containing a white powdery substance in a drawer in the victim’s bedroom. The substance was recovered by members of the Suffolk County Police Department and sent to the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory who determined the powdery substance to be a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl. Romano was subsequently arrested on February 21, 2023.

On March 17, 2023, Romano was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony. Judge Pilewski ordered Romano held on $100,000 cash, $300,000 bond or $1 million partially secured bond. Romano is due back in court on April 3, 2023, and faces up to nine years’ imprisonment on each count. He is being represented by Natasja Bellinger, Esq.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lauren Golombek of the Narcotics Bureau.

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Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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