BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Carlique DeBerry, 38, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl causing death before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who is handling the case, stated that on Feb. 25, 2016, the defendant traveled to Hamburg, NY, shortly after 9:00 p.m. to the home of a repeat drug customer identified as R.G. DeBerry sold a quantity of “heroin" to R.G. then left. Shortly after midnight, R.G.'s mother found R.G. slumped over deceased in a chair.
Law enforcement officers who responded to the residence seized R.G.'s cell phone. The next morning, the defendant sent a text message to R.G. stating, "Call me wen u get this bro." A police officer pretending to be R.G. responded, leading to the following exchange with the defendant:
“R.G.": Yo my mins are about used. What's up? That was some good (expletive) last night
Defendant: K Just checkn on u thts all
“R.G.": That was some heavy stuff wtf was up w thay
Defendant: Its pure thats whats up wit it bro
Deberry then arranged to sell another bundle of the “heroin" for $100.
An autopsy determined that R.G.’s cause of death was acute fentanyl intoxication.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division and the Hamburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gregory Wickett.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
