United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Nalerton Charles, also known as “Lite,” with conspiring to distribute and distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and heroin in Staten Island, N.Y. Charles was arrested earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Richard P. Donoghue, DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan and New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill announced the charges.

“As alleged, Charles sold heroin laced with fentanyl, and on occasion fentanyl alone, without regard for the potentially deadly consequences of the narcotics to users,” said United States Attorney Donoghue. “This office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to save lives by arresting and prosecuting those who contribute to the opioid epidemic by pushing these dangerous drugs.”

“This arrest underscores the dangers posed by opioid traffickers,” said Special Agent in Charge Donovan. “Fentanyl is the leading killer among street drugs because of its fatal potency of 2-3 milligrams. Every time you use, you put your life in the hands of a drug dealer. Law enforcement’s tireless effort to safeguard our communities from drug traffickers will continue.”

“Anyone who deals in illegal narcotics, including opioids, should understand that the nation’s best investigators will stop at nothing to fight crime, target traffickers and keep safe everyone we serve,” said Commissioner O’Neill. “I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, the DEA, and the investigators involved in this investigation for their efforts which resulted in this arrest.”

As alleged in the complaint, between July 2018 and April 2019, Charles sold at least 40 grams of fentanyl and heroin laced with fentanyl. On Sept. 9, 2018, a 43-year-old individual (victim-1) died of a drug-related overdose at his residence on Staten Island. Drug packaging found near victim-1’s body was consistent with the packaging that Charles used for the narcotics he sold. Law enforcement officers obtained video from surveillance cameras outside victim-1’s residence recorded shortly before his death.

The video showed victim-1 and Charles together. On April 23, 2019, a 29-year-old individual (victim-2) died of a drug-related overdose at his residence on Staten Island. A search of victim-2’s phone revealed text messages between Charles and victim-2. On the morning of victim-2’s death, he texted Charles, “Is it mix w fentonal…Just wanna know to be careful.” Shortly before victim-2’s body was discovered, Charles texted victim-2: “U good.”

Additionally, Charles sold pure fentanyl to a confidential source and an undercover NYPD officer in doses that could have been lethal if consumed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Justice, drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50. The increase in overdose deaths has been driven in large part by fentanyl – a drug that has been described as 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. In New York, from 2014 to 2015, fentanyl overdose deaths rose 135 percent, while heroin overdose deaths rose 28 percent. According to the CDC, in 2016 synthetic opioid overdose deaths – which include fentanyl – more than doubled from 9,580 in 2015 to 19,413.

The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Department of Justice Trial Attorney Miriam L. Glaser Dauermann of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

The Defendant:

Nalerton Charles (also known as “Lite”)

Age: 38

Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-MJ-418

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