4 ODs In 1 Day On North Fork: Fentanyl Dealer Gets 25 Years: DOJ

NORTH FORK, NY — A Riverhead man who pleaded guilty in November to distributing the fentanyl-laced cocaine that led to four overdoses in one day on the North Fork was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the sentencing took place in federal court in Central Islip.

Marquis Douglas, 39, of Riverhead, a drug trafficker who operated a narcotics business that was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl and other illicit substances throughout the North Fork, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joanna Seybert, the DOJ said.

Douglas pleaded guilty in November, 2023 to conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, more than one kilogram of heroin, more than 280 grams of crack cocaine, more than 40 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of fentanyl analogue (fluorofentanyl), and distribution of cocaine and fluorofentanyl on or about August 12, 2021, which resulted in the overdose deaths of four people, the DOJ said.

"Douglas’s singular contribution to the opioid epidemic on Long Island is horrific, as the drugs he distributed contributed to the deaths of four human beings," Peace said. "Today’s lengthy sentence should serve as a deterrent to those endangering our communities by distributing potentially lethal drugs. It is my hope that holding the defendant accountable for the terrible consequences of his actions will bring a measure of closure to the victims’ families."

On August 13, 2021, four men were found dead on the East End after using cocaine that had been laced with a fentanyl analogue, the DOJ said. An investigation by the Southold Police Department, the Shelter Island Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI determined that Douglas was the source of the lethal narcotics, the DOJ said.

In August, 2021, Douglas’ operation distributed a quantity of cocaine laced with a fentanyl analogue in Greenport, the DOJ said. When this product was re-distributed at the street level, it ultimately led to four fatal overdoses on a single day in Greenport and Shelter Island, according to Peace. Douglas had distributed multiple kilograms of cocaine over the years, as well as kilogram level quantities of heroin and large quantities of fentanyl, the DOJ said.

At the time of his arrest in May of 2022, Douglas was found in possession of 105 grams of fentanyl and 135 grams of cocaine, the DOJ said.

Douglas was charged in June 2022., Peace said.

The deadly batch of fentanyl-laced cocaine led to the rash of eight overdoses and six deaths on the North Fork and Shelter Island over eight days in August, 2021, police said at the time.

The community mourned the lost, gathering together at a vigil in Greenport to share memories and tears.

The overdoses led to the creation of Narcan stations in businesses across the North Fork, to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

Peace thanked the Riverhead Police Department,the Southold Police Department, the Shelter Island Police Department and the New York State Police for their assistance with the investigation.

"Marquis Douglas’s unlawful narcotics trafficking operation resulted in the deaths of four individuals on Long Island and posed a significant threat to the welfare of its citizens. His actions fueled an ongoing epidemic by supplying lethal drugs to our community. The FBI is committed to disrupting the flow of these illicit substances in our streets to prevent future unnecessary fatalities," FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Curtis said.

"This defendant dealt multiple kilograms of various deadly drugs, resulting in four tragic overdose deaths. This underscores why New York State needs to adequately address the opioid overdose epidemic plaguing communities throughout NY state and the country,” Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney said. "Thankfully, the strong collaboration between our office and our federal law enforcement partners allowed this case to be charged federally and provide justice for the families of these victims."