Prison For Putnam Drug Dealer Tied To Fentanyl Death

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — A drug dealer tied to a fatal heroin and fentanyl overdose in Southeast in 2021 has been sentenced to nine years in state prison, Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy announced.

The judge sentenced William E. Mancusi III of Kent as a Second Felony Offender because he had a prior Vehicular Manslaughter conviction stemming from an incident in 2008 during which Mancusi, driving while impaired by drugs, struck and killed a bicyclist in Dutchess County. He also had been convicted by a Putnam County jury of felony Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.

Citing his history of reckless behavior in support of the lengthy prison term, First Assistant District Attorney Breanne Smith described the defendant as a “danger” and a “menace to society."

On Jan. 12, Mancusi was convicted of two Counts each of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, each a Class B felony, in connection with his possession and sale of a substance containing Heroin, Fentanyl and Xylazine.

On Nov. 12, 2021, New York State police investigators responded to a fatal overdose in the town of Southeast where investigation revealed that the drugs tied to the death had come from Mancusi, prosecutors said.

The members of the New York State Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team were able to conduct a series of undercover operations in the following days during which Mancusi provided a confidential informant with a heroin, fentanyl and xylazine cocktail, the DA said.

Mancusi was heard on audio recordings bragging that the combination was some of the “strongest” stuff that he has had “in over a year” and urged the confidential informant to “be careful” in using the drugs, prosecutors said.

A chemical analysis conducted by NYSP Forensic Scientist Jenna Snow demonstrated that the drugs sold were, in fact, a very potent combination of heroin, fentanyl and xylazine.

At sentencing, County Court Justice Joseph Spofford rejected Mancusi’s request for a drug treatment facility and, instead, agreed with prosecutors' argument that the 47-year-old had never expressed any remorse for his actions and that he had repeatedly failed when given opportunities to seek drug rehabilitation for his own admitted addiction, the DA said.

Tendy commended members of the NYSP VGNET for quickly investigating and assessing Mancusi’s involvement, as well as the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit and the New York State Police Crime Lab for their assistance.

"The defendant’s callous disregard for the potential life ending substances he was pushing is difficult to fathom. How he could put so many people in danger is beyond me," Tendy said. "Mr. Mancusi is finally being held to account for his crimes and we are grateful to the Judge for sentencing him to 9 years."