Two men, Michael Kuilan and Antonio Venti, have been charged with providing fentanyl-laced heroin that resulted in the death of transgender activist and actress Cecilia Gentili in her Brooklyn home in February. This information was revealed in an indictment unsealed in Brooklyn federal court. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges. Gentili’s death was met with an outpouring of grief from the LGBTQ community and prominent New York officials who mourned her passing. Her funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral was marred by controversy due to the behavior of some attendees.
According to officials, Gentili died from the effects of heroin, xylazine, cocaine, and fentanyl. She had purchased drugs from Venti on the evening of February 5 before returning home feeling unwell and subsequently passing away in her sleep. The authorities found evidence linking Venti to the drugs sold to Gentili and traced their origin back to Kuilan. Gentili had a troubled past, including experiences with addiction and homelessness, before becoming an advocate for transgender rights and sex worker decriminalization.
The Drug Enforcement Administration emphasized the dangers of illicit drugs within the LGBTQ community, noting that Gentili’s death serves as a stark reminder. A search of Kuilan’s residence uncovered a significant amount of fentanyl, which prosecutors stated was enough to administer lethal doses to thousands of people. Both Kuilan and Venti were arrested on drug distribution charges initially, with the indictment adding the charge of distribution causing death, which carries a possible sentence of 20 years to life in prison.
During the arraignment, Kuilan’s mother expressed shock over the arrest of her son, who had a history of drug-related felonies dating back to the early 2000s. Venti, who had prior convictions for petty larceny and attempted drug sales, was allowed to remain free under certain conditions. The attorney for Venti expressed condolences for Gentili’s passing and remarked on his personal advocacy for transgender issues. Meanwhile, the epidemic of fentanyl overdose in the United States has prompted aggressive efforts by law enforcement to target suppliers and hold them accountable for overdose deaths.
The D.E.A. has labeled fentanyl overdose as the leading cause of death for younger Americans and identifies it as a significant threat to the population. Efforts by the Justice Department have focused on suppliers in China and Mexico, while federal prosecutors pursue charges related to overdose deaths. The case of Michael K. Williams, the actor known for his role in “The Wire,” who died from fentanyl-laced heroin, resulted in charges against the individuals who provided the drugs. One of the dealers pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and received a 10-year prison sentence in a highly-publicized case.
