Drug Dealer Indicted For Fatal Fentanyl, Heroin Overdose In Somerset County: U.S. Attorney

SOMERSET, NJ — A Somerset County man was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug charges, including dealing fentanyl and heroin to a person who later died, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Thomas Kane Miller, 40, of Somerset, was charged in July 2023 by criminal indictment with one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor (4-ANPP), one count of distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, and two counts of distribution of fentanyl and heroin.

"The fentanyl epidemic has devastated communities across the country," Habba stated. "Too many lives have been lost, too many families have been broken. This poison has no place on our streets. This office is unwavering in its pursuit of justice, and will relentlessly hold accountable anyone who traffics fentanyl or other deadly drugs in New Jersey — ensuring they face the full weight of the law for the destruction they cause."

In October 2022, Miller dealt a mixture of fentanyl and heroin to a person who died as a result of using the substance, according to documents filed in this case.

Police found the dead person at a home in Plainfield. Inside the victim’s home were two wax folds containing fentanyl and heroin bearing a unique stamp, which police linked to Miller, said Habba.

Shortly before the victim’s death, the victim and Miller were communicating about arranging to meet, said Habba.

Around 10 days before the victim’s death, Miller was found in possession of multiple wax folds bearing the same unique stamp and containing fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor, according to authorities.

Miller also sold fentanyl and heroin on two other occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, in Middlesex and Somerset Counties, according to authorities.

The count of drug distribution resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $1 million.

The counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, and distribution of fentanyl and heroin, each carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

"Today’s indictment against Thomas Miller reflects the determination the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those individuals who continue to poison our communities with fentanyl," stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. "Mr. Miller’s victim was more than just another statistic; it’s a life cut short by greed. The DEA is committed to holding these individuals accountable, especially when their actions result in the tragic loss of life."

"This tragic loss of life is a stark reminder fentanyl-related deaths continue to plague our communities," said Homeland Security Investigations New York acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. "The lethal dangers posed by the illegal narcotics that traffickers are introducing to our communities cannot be overstated. This is why HSI New York, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that prioritize profit over American lives."

Habba credited special agents of the New York DEA Strike Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino, III, special agents of HSI New York, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John P. McDonald, and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, with the investigation, leading to the charges.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location.

This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

The arrest was the result of an investigation by the New York Strike Force, a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.