CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – Devon Thurmond has entered a guilty plea in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in the fatal overdoses of two individuals on Long Island. The plea was made before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown, where Thurmond admitted to conspiring to sell counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl between 2021 and 2023. The sales led to the overdose deaths of two victims, one in April 2021 and another in January 2023. Thurmond now faces up to 40 years in prison.
According to the plea, Thurmond, alongside co-defendant Cartier Funderburke, sold fake oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to one victim leading to their death in April 2021. Additionally, while incarcerated on unrelated charges, Thurmond facilitated the distribution of similar counterfeit pills through co-defendant Melissa Trimarchi, resulting in a second victim’s death in January 2023. Both co-defendants have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, along with officials from the DEA and the Glen Cove Police Department, announced the guilty plea, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic and hold accountable those responsible for distributing deadly substances like fentanyl.
The case highlights the dangerous impact of fentanyl disguised as prescription medication on communities and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to pursue justice for victims of the opioid crisis.