Suffolk Man Sold Deadly Fentanyl That Killed Woman: Prosecutors

HOLBROOK, NY — A Holbrook man faces elevated drug charges in connection with selling deadly fentanyl to a Lake Grove woman who died from an overdose last year, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney's office said Friday.

Jaquan Casserly, 34, has been accused of selling the drug to the woman, causing her to die at Stony Brook University Hospital days after she was revived from an overdose, according to prosecutors.

Suffolk police officers responding to a 911 call on Aug. 28, 2022, about an overdose at a Lake Grove home when the woman's mother found her "unresponsive in the bathroom," administered the opioid reversal drug, Narcan, and she regained a pulse, prosecutors said.

The woman was taken to Stony Brook, though she died later "as a result of the drug overdose," according to prosecutors.

Six days after the woman's overdose, on Aug. 24 a cell phone belonging to the woman was turned over to police by her parents, prosecutors said.

An undercover detective from Suffolk police contacted Casserly and arranged for another sale of the narcotic on Aug. 27, and Casserly, unaware of the woman's condition, instructed the investigator to go to the same location where he sold fentanyl to her a week earlier, according to prosecutors.

On Aug. 25, Casserly met with the detective at Holbrook Commons and sold them a combination of heroin and fentanyl contained in a red plastic envelope, prosecutors said.

Police searched Casserly’s Holbrook home and recovered a combination of heroin and fentanyl, a digital scale used to weigh drugs, red and black envelopes used to package narcotics, a pair of metal knuckles, and his cell phone, according to prosecutors.

The envelopes were similar to those sold to the undercover detective two days before, prosecutors said, adding that a search of Casserly’s phone showed he made arrangements to meet the woman on Aug. 17 at Holbrook Commons, offering to sell her a “fetty mix,” which is a street term describing a mix of fentanyl and heroin.

Tierney said, "Sadly, this is yet another example of an alleged drug dealer pushing poison onto our streets without any regard for the inevitably destructive and deadly consequences of such sales."

"Our office is steadfast in its mission to investigate every overdose in Suffolk County and hold drug dealers accountable for selling illegal and deadly substances, especially fentanyl," he said.

Casserly is charged with two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, all felonies.

He was additionally charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, and two counts of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Casserly is held on $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $5 million partially-secured bond.

In a text, Casserly's attorney, Christopher Gioe of Southampton, said his client entered a not guilty plea and maintains his innocence. Gioe's legal team are conducting "a thorough investigation," he said, adding that they intend to vigorously contest the allegations that have been made by law enforcement.

Casserly is due back in court on March 3.