Waterbury Fentanyl Dealer Pleads After Fatal OD In Putnam: DA

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — A drug dealer from Waterbury, whose clients included the victim of a fatal overdose in Putnam County, faces prison time after a guilty plea, Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy announced.

Brandon Gatling, 30, was arrested June 14, 2023, after an investigation conducted by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit into a fatal overdose revealed Gatling’s contact information in the victim’s cellphone.

Investigators acting undercover arranged for a purchase of fentanyl from Gatling to take place in Putnam County. Upon Gatling’s arrival, members of the NEU took him into custody. In his vehicle, they found more than 200 glassine envelopes containing a deadly heroin/fentanyl mixture, several cellphones, a small quantity of cocaine, and several rounds of ammunition.

“The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit did an outstanding job in this investigation,” Tendy said. “As always, they were painstaking in their work, and it resulted in getting off our streets someone who had no compunction bringing and selling deadly drugs into Putnam County. ADA Breanne Smith, who worked with them and prosecuted the case, is also to be commended for her around the clock efforts in bringing this prosecution to fruition.”

Gatling pleaded guilty Sept. 3 to one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 19, to six years in state prison with a post-release supervision period of one and a half years.