Bronx man indicted on federal drug charges tied to fatal overdose

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Bronx man indicted on federal drug charges tied to fatal overdose

Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice

A Bronx man, Estherlyn Frias, also known as “Platinum” and “Silver,” has been charged with federal narcotics offenses that allegedly resulted in the death of a person in Greenwich, Connecticut. The indictment was unsealed following an announcement by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton and Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Kevin P. Castel.

“As alleged, Estherlyn Frias has been pumping deadly drugs into our communities for years, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and more,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The drugs that he sold claimed someone’s life, and it appears they may have claimed others before. Shockingly, Frias appears to have stored his significant drug supply in an apartment where his two young children lived with him, mere feet away from where they slept. Our communities’ suffering from this kind of personal profit ends now. As the charges in this case show, together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who distribute illegal drugs.”

“Another senseless death at the hands of an individual pushing illicit narcotics laced with fentanyl,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino. As alleged, Estherlyn Frias repeatedly trafficked and sold fentanyl laced products, going so far as to recklessly stash these deadly drugs in a bedroom where his children slept. While today’s indictment against Mr. Frias will not bring back the person whose life was lost; it undoubtably represents a step towards justice and likely saved countless others. The DEA is committed to saving lives and will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners in targeting those responsible for poisoning our communities and destroying families.”

According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, between January 2023 and July 2025 Frias is accused of conspiring with others to distribute multiple types of illegal drugs—including methamphetamine, fentanyl (and para-fluorofentanyl), cocaine base, cocaine, heroin, and methadone—from his Bronx apartment where he lived with his girlfriend and two young children.

Investigators allege that on or about July 1, 2025 a victim died from acute fentanyl and cocaine intoxication after purchasing drugs from Frias outside his apartment less than twelve hours earlier. Evidence indicates that Frias had been selling drugs to this victim for several weeks prior to the fatal incident.

A search of Frias’s apartment on the night of the victim’s death reportedly uncovered large quantities of narcotics—such as hundreds of glassine envelopes containing fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl; plastic bags containing heroin or methamphetamine; colored capsules containing crack cocaine; bottles containing methadone—as well as drug paraphernalia like empty capsules, digital scales, and ledgers documenting transactions.

Phone records also included videos showing Frias retrieving drugs from a dresser near where one of his children was sleeping.

Frias faces three counts: conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death (with a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years up to life imprisonment), possession with intent to distribute narcotics (10 years minimum up to life), and possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death (20 years minimum up to life). Sentencing decisions are ultimately determined by a judge.

Jay Clayton commended both the DEA and Greenwich Police Department for their investigative efforts. The Office’s Narcotics Unit is prosecuting the case through Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca R. Delfiner and Benjamin M. Burkett.

The charges remain allegations at this stage; under law the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.