Two men have been charged with providing the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed prominent New York City transgender activist Cecilia Gentili in February, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
Antonio Venti, 52, of Long Island, sold Gentili drugs on February 5, and Michael Quillan, 44, of Brooklyn, supplied Venti with the deadly drugs, according to text messages. Federal prosecutors announced that this was shown to be based on data from mobile phone websites and other evidence.
Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said law enforcement officials who searched Quilan’s home also found hundreds of baggies of fentanyl, a handgun and ammunition.
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The two pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in federal court in Brooklyn and were released on bail until their next court date on April 22, Peace’s office said. Their attorneys did not respond to messages seeking comment.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 5: Cecilia Gentili attends the Whitney Museum afterparty for the HBO documentary film on June 5, 2023 in New York City. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images, HBO)
Gentili is a former sex worker who has become a leading advocate for sex workers and people living with HIV, as well as other transgender people. She also appeared in her FX television series, Pose, which depicted the underground ballroom dancing scene of the 1980s and 1990s.
Her lavish funeral, held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, drew outrage from the Catholic community, including the historic church’s pastor.
Gentili was found dead in her bedroom on February 6th. Prosecutors say Gentili, 52, of Brooklyn, died from the combined effects of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine and cocaine.
Fentanyl, which is usually mixed with other drugs, accounts for about 70% of drug-related deaths nationwide, said Frank Tarentino, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York office.
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“Today’s indictments send a strong message to those who profit from polluting our communities with illegal drugs,” New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban said in a statement.
