Long Island Drug Dealer Gets 53 Years For Role In Large-Scale Trafficking Operation: DA

LONG ISLAND, NY — A Long Island man was sentenced to 53 years in state prison for his role as a major drug trafficker whose actions resulted in the deaths of two people, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said Tuesday.

Russell "Merc" Defreitas, 55, of Holbrook, was found guilty last month of operating as a major drug trafficker, and 91 other charges, for his role in a large-scale cocaine and fentanyl trafficking operation in the county, which caused two fentanyl overdose deaths.

Tierney said that Defrieitas' sentencing, "while significant, highlights the urgent need for
stronger legislation in New York, like Chelsey’s Law, which would give prosecutors
"more tools to hold dealers accountable when their products cause death."

If passed, the law would allow prosecutors to charge a drug dealer with manslaughter or aggravated manslaughter for knowingly selling a drug that causes a person to die from a drug overdose.

“This defendant’s actions directly led to two overdose fatalities, yet our current laws don’t allow us to charge these preventable deaths as the homicides that they are," he said. "Chelsey’s Law would ensure that those who profit from dealing deadly substances face consequences proportionate to the devastation they cause in our communities.”

In September 2022, law enforcement responded to a fatal overdose in Holbrook, and members of the DA's Office East End Drug Task Force learned that Defreitas was a member of a large-scale organization in Suffolk that was conspiring to sell substantial amounts of crack cocaine and fentanyl, using loaded firearms "to protect their narcotics empire," prosecutors said.

On March 9, 2023, a male and female were in a hotel room rented by Defreitas, and when the female
overdosed in the hotel room, Defreitas directed his associates not to call 911, instead removing
drugs and other evidence from the hotel room and then went to eat at a nearby Wendy’s, according to prosecutors.

Hours later, Defreitas allowed one of his associates to call 911, and by that time, both the female and male had both succumbed to overdose in the hotel room, prosecutors said.

Defreitas was arrested two days later, on March 11, 2023, while staying in another hotel, and the same day, members of law enforcement executed search warrants at Defreitas’ hotel room, his trailer in Holbrook, and his vehicle that was used for drug trafficking, according to prosecutors.

During those searches, law enforcement recovered cocaine, fentanyl, two loaded firearms, cutting agents, drug packaging materials, scales used to weigh narcotics, and numerous hotel room key cards, prosecutors said, adding that Defreitas was found with bank cards in the names of two of his overdose victims at the time of his arrest.

On May 18, 2023, Defreitas testified at a court proceeding on his behalf, and the evidence at trial
showed he repeatedly lied under oath about his drug dealing activity, according to prosecutors.

He represented himself at trial.

In addition to one count of operating as a major drug trafficker, Defreitas was also convicted of eight counts of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, 10 counts of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, one count of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and one count of second-degree conspiracy.

He was also convicted of six counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, 45 counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was additionally convicted of three counts of first-degree perjury, one count of tampering with physical evidence, five counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and six counts of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia.