Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, Angelina Barini was sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 30 years’ imprisonment for distributing narcotics and causing the deaths of multiple victims. In August 2021, Barini pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing narcotics that caused the deaths of a person; one count of distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; and one count of conspiring to distribute gamma-butyrolactone (GBL).
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Ricky J. Patel, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI); and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“The defendant drugged and killed multiple people for a few quick dollars. She stole their personal belongings while they lay unconscious dying from the lethal drugs she gave them. The defendant’s substantial prison sentence is warranted by her shocking disregard for human life,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Hopefully, today’s sentence will bring some solace to the victims’ families and serve as a warning to future perpetrators that there are significant consequences to these horrific crimes.”
“Displaying complete disregard for human life, Barini peddled fentanyl-laced drugs to her victims who tragically lost their lives to temporary highs. The plague of addiction continues to devastate families and communities in New York and around the country. This case is a painful reminder that there are people like Barini who prey on addicts, turning deadly fentanyl cocktails into quick profits. HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to investigating and dismantling networks that perpetuate opioid related overdose deaths. Today’s sentencing holds one more dealer responsible for profiting off the addiction of others, several of whom paid the ultimate price,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Patel.
“For the immense harm her illegal narcotics peddling caused several victims, Angela Barini today will be sent to prison,” said Police Commissioner Sewell. “This sentence underscores the NYPD’s commitment, along with all of our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, to never stop working to protect lives and ensure justice.”
As detailed in court filings and statements at court proceedings, between July and August of 2019, Barini provided narcotics to her victims to incapacitate and rob them of their belongings while sometimes conducting business as a sex worker. On multiple occasions, those narcotics contained lethal doses of fentanyl. On July 4, 2019, Barini met with a victim at a motel in Astoria, Queens and gave him fentanyl-laced drugs. The victim was found dead later that day. On July 11, 2019, Barini met with a victim at a motel in Woodside, Queens and gave him fentanyl-laced drugs which caused his overdose death. On August 5, 2019, Barini met another victim in College Point, Queens and gave him fentanyl-laced drugs which caused his overdose death.
Additionally, on August 18, 2019, Barini met a victim inside an Elmhurst, Queens motel room and drugged him with GBL, which is commonly referred to as a “date rape” drug. The victim died shortly after entering the motel room and Barini made repeated attempts to dispose of the victim’s body without being detected. On August 21, 2019, the NYPD found the victim dead in the motel room. The victim’s body had been wrapped in bleach-stained sheets and placed inside of a garbage bin.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Grubin and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ANGELINA BARINI
Age: 43
Queens, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-428 (S-2) (BMC)