A Flanders man who prosecutors say sold heroin and fentanyl to a woman who later died of an overdose in East Quogue last year has been indicted on on felony drug charges, the Suffolk district attorney and Southampton Town Police announced this afternoon.
Justin Adamo, 34, is charged with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony; five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a class B felony; one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a class D felony; three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a class A misdemeanor; and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, according to a press release issued by the district attorney’s office.
An investigation into the Sept. 5, 2018 overdose death of a woman in East Quote showed that the victim died of “mixed drug toxicity from a combination of heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone and cocaine,” according to prosecutors. The victim’s cell phone showed recent text messages from a contact under the name “Tone” informing the victim that he had heroin available for purchase and providing directions to a location where the sale would occur. An investigation revealed that the phone number listed as “Tone” belonged to Adamo and the directions provided were consistent with Adamo’s residence in Flanders.
An investigation by the district attorney’s office and the Southampton Town Police Department revealed that Adamo would allegedly travel to Queens to pick up narcotics, which he would then sell in Suffolk County, according to the press release.
On Feb. 17, Southampton Town Police officers conducted a traffic stop of Adamo’s vehicle on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue and found Adamo in possession of heroin, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, and cocaine in packaging consistent with drug sales. The heroin was in packaging stamped with the name “Top Gun.”
On March 31, Southampton Town Police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Adamo was a passenger. Adamo and another individual were found in possession of a bag of heroin, stamped with the name “Hall Pass.” The investigation also revealed evidence of an alleged drug sale by Adamo on March 25.
Adamo was arrested on July 6 and charged with the alleged sale of heroin and fentanyl on Sept. 5, 2018, as well as the illegal possession of a switchblade.
“The combination of heroin and fentanyl is highly lethal, and the drug dealers profiting from this poison are well aware of that,” District Attorney Sini said. “This is exactly why we need stronger legislation, including a ‘death by dealer’ statute, that adequately reflects the deadly consequences of selling drugs,” he said.
“This case is yet another example of the deadly consequences associated with opioid use,” Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki said.
“The Southampton Town Police Department, working with the Suffolk County DA’s office and our East End Partners, will not rest until we rid our communities of those who demonstrate a complete disregard for the law and human life itself by promoting and profiting from the sale of these deadly substances.”
Adamo was arraigned on the indictment today by Suffolk County Court Judge Karen M. Wilutis and was remanded without bail pending a bail application by defense counsel. He is due back in court on July 23 in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice William J. Condon.
If convicted of the top count, Adamo faces a maximum sentence of up to nine years in prison.
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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