Accused Of Causing Overdose Deaths In Rockland County: What Should I Do?

In a tough response to the opioid crisis, many states have created laws that punish people for causing fentanyl overdoses. These states include New York and New Jersey, and they have the potential to cause serious penalties for alleged drug dealers in these jurisdictions. What should you do if you were accused of causing someone else’s overdose? What are some potential drug defense strategies in Rockland County? You might want to ask these questions during an initial consultation with a New City criminal defense attorney.

Rockland County Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years in Prison for Causing Overdoses 

In late February of 2025, it was reported that a Rockland County man had been sentenced to over 22 years in prison for causing numerous fentanyl overdoses. His drugs were connected to a total of six overdoses, with three of them being fatal. Some of the victims were reportedly “friends” of the defendant rather than straightforward customers, and some of the people who died were teenagers.

The defendant expressed remorse but received little sympathy from the court. He was accused of trying to hide evidence, shifting the blame onto the victims, and initially denying any involvement. What made this case particularly heinous in the eyes of the court was the fact that the defendant never informed his customers and friends that the drugs contained fentanyl.

One 19-year-old died after purchasing fake Percocet pills from the defendant. Another 18-year-old died after the defendant gave her fake Xanax pills that contained fentanyl. This teenager was reportedly in a romantic relationship with the defendant.

Couple Accused of Supplying Drugs That Caused a Fatal Overdose 

Another recent case involved a couple in Bergen County who allegedly provided drugs that caused a fatal overdose. After the overdose occurred last year, police carried out an investigation that eventually led them to the couple’s home. They then carried out a search and uncovered “hundreds of bags” of fentanyl. These two defendants were charged with first-degree “strict liability for drug-induced death,” which is a charge that prosecutors can bring in New Jersey after overdoses.

Defense Strategies for Those Accused of Causing Overdoses 

Various defense strategies could be possible, depending on the circumstances. You may be able to challenge the chain of custody of the drug evidence, as police officers often lose, destroy, or tamper with this evidence. For example, a police lieutenant in Bergen County was recently accused of stealing drugs from an evidence locker. Investigators later discovered more than $600,000 in unexplained cash deposits in his bank account. This implies the defendant may have been selling the drugs after stealing them from the evidence locker.

Can a Rockland County Criminal Defense Attorney Help? 

If you were accused of criminally negligent homicide, strict liability for drug-induced death, or similar charges, consider speaking with a drug defense attorney in Rockland County. Even if you are not a drug dealer, you could still face extremely serious penalties for giving drugs to someone who subsequently overdoses. Consider discussing potential defense strategies with Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law today.

Sources: 

lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2025/02/20/rockland-ny-fentanyl-drug-deaths-justin-turnick-sentenced-nearly-22-years-prison-for-six-overdoses/79297704007/

nj.com/bergen/2025/03/nj-couple-charged-in-overdose-death-as-cops-seize-fentanyl-supply.html

nbcnewyork.com/new-jersey/nj-police-lieutenant-accused-of-stealing-drugs-from-evidence-locker/6184322/