LI Man Sells Fentanyl-Tramadol Mixture, Causing Fatal Overdose: DA

NORTH AMITYVILLE, NY — A North Amityville man was indicted on Monday after he sold a fentanyl-tramadol mixture to three Copiague men, causing the fatal overdose of a 32-year-old man, and the non-fatal overdoses of the two others, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.

Omar Aitcheson, 31, of North Amityville, was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance before Acting County Court Judge Karen Wilutis, Tierney said.

On Oct. 8, Aitcheson allegedly sold a fentanyl-tramadol mixture to three Copiague men in Suffolk County, according to the investigation.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, and ingesting just two milligrams can be lethal, prosecutors said. Tramadol is a strong opioid pain medication used to treat moderate to severe pain, with side effects that can slow or stop breathing.

Believing that they had purchased cocaine, the three men snorted the substance that Aitcheson allegedly sold them, and all three immediately experienced symptoms of an opioid overdose, prosecutors said.

Two of the three overdose victims were transported to Catholic Health Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip to be treated, the DA said. One of men was released after receiving treatment, and the other, a 32-year-old man, was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the hospital, prosecutors said.

Aitcheson continued to sell narcotics after he sold the fentanyl-tramadol mixture to the three
victims, Tierney said. In October 2023, Aitcheson also allegedly sold cocaine to undercover detectives on two separate dates, Tierney said.

He was arrested on Oct. 24, according to the DA.

“This defendant allegedly sold a substance that he advertised as cocaine, but which was instead revealed to be a deadly cocktail of fentanyl and tramadol that resulted in the overdose death of one man and the non-fatal overdoses of two others,” said Tierney. “While we tirelessly prosecute cases like this one, justice will not fully be done until our state drug and bail laws are fixed. It is unconscionable that my prosecutors cannot even ask for bail on fentanyl dealers until after a death results, when it is already too late.”

Judge Wilutis ordered Aitcheson held on $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $2.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case, Tierney said.

Aitcheson is due back in court on Dec. 12, and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of the top count, Tierney's office said.

He is being represented by Eric Besso, Esq.