Sullivan County Man Sentenced In White Plains Federal Court To Over 21 Years In Prison For Distribution Of Heroin And Fentanyl Causing The Death Of An Individual

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TERRENCE JOHNSON, 23, of Sullivan County, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel to 262 months in prison for distributing heroin and fentanyl; distributing cocaine; selling heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine within 1,000 feet of elementary schools; conspiring to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin, conspiring to distribute at least 280 grams of crack cocaine, and for distributing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of Malcolm Perry, 35, a resident of Liberty, New York.  JOHNSON pled guilty on June 3, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.

U.S. Attorney Bharara stated: “Even after learning that his fentanyl-laced heroin had sent customers to the emergency room, Terrence Johnson continued to sell his poisonous blend, ultimately causing the tragic death of Malcolm Perry.  For his callous crime, Johnson has received an appropriately severe sentence.  Drug dealers who peddle deadly poison across our District should understand, if they sell opioids that kill, serious consequences await them.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and other information in the public record:

Between May 28, 2015, and June 6, 2015, JOHNSON was selling a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in Sullivan County.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is significantly stronger than both ordinary heroin and morphine. During that period, several customers who purchased that mixture from JOHNSON overdosed and required emergency medical attention.  On or about June 1, 2015, Malcolm Perry overdosed and died of acute fentanyl intoxication as a result of using the mixture sold by JOHNSON.  Even after learning that Perry had died, JOHNSON continued to sell the mixture.

Between 2012 and 2013, JOHNSON also conspired to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine in Sullivan County.

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In addition to the term of imprisonment, JOHNSON was also sentenced to 6 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $1,000 special assessment.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Village of Liberty Police Department, the New York State Police, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, and the Village of Monticello Police Department.  Mr. Bharara also thanked the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the case.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anden Chow, Michael Gerber, and George Turner are in charge of the prosecution.