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Devon Thurmond, a Glen Cove resident, pleaded guilty to running the scheme that caused two deaths on Friday, March 22, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York.
From 2021 to 2023, Thurmond conspired with two other Glen Cove residents — Cartier Funderburke, age 24, and Melissa Trimarchi, age 37 — to sell fentanyl that was disguised as oxycodone pills.
One of the victims Thurmond sold to, a 34-year-old Glen Cove resident, died of a fentanyl overdose in April 2021. According to the USAO, Thurmond had personally delivered the disguised pills to his victim earlier that day.
Then, while Thurmond was in jail in January 2023, another victim died of an overdose at his home, this time a 27-year-old Locust Valley man.
Recorded phone calls between Thurmond and Trimarchi revealed that Trimarchi had sold the victim fentanyl (disguised as a single oxycodone pill) just hours before his death. The pill had been taken from Thurmond’s supply, which he had given to Trimarchi to sell on his behalf.
“Fentanyl is the greatest threat to our nation,” said DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino.
“While this guilty plea doesn’t bring back the lives lost, it sends a message that we will do everything we can to make sure those responsible face the consequences.”
Thurmond faces up to 40 years behind bars at his sentencing.
Both Trimarchi and Funderburke pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme and are awaiting their sentences.
According to the New York State Health Department, the number of overdose deaths in the state involving any opioid increased by about 200 percent between 2010 and 2017.
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