Manhattan Man Charged With Dealing Fentanyl Resulting In The Deaths Of Two Victims

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), Pete Gizas, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JERMAINE BROWN with drug-trafficking crimes that led to two fatal overdoses. BROWN was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang and ordered detained. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

"As alleged, for years, Jermaine Brown dealt dangerous drugs, including heroin laced with fentanyl, to New Yorkers," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Today's unsealed indictment against Brown reiterates our Office's clear message: if you deal in fentanyl, you deal in death, and our office will hold you accountable."

"As alleged, Jermaine Brown callously pumped heroin laced with fentanyl into our communities, and in turn contributed to the horrific overdose deaths of two victims," said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. "His arrest removes an accused ruthless drug trafficker from our streets and provides a measure of long-overdue relief to the victims' families and the neighborhoods he preyed upon. Every day, HSI New York is relentlessly committed to working with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the NYPD, and our invaluable law enforcement partners to investigate these heinous crimes and protect our communities from the lethal threat of fentanyl and other narcotics."

"As alleged, this defendant distributed lethal drugs, including fentanyl-laced heroin, which ultimately led to the overdose deaths of two victims," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "We will not allow drug peddlers to flood our communities with dangerous poisons and put lives at risk without facing consequences. Thanks to the efforts of our NYPD investigators, alongside the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, we are holding this criminal accountable."

As alleged in the Indictment and documents submitted to the Court:

From at least in or around 2022 through at least in or around December 2025, BROWN, a Manhattan-based dealer, sold a variety of controlled substances, including heroin, to numerous customers. BROWN provided drugs to some customers over extended periods of time. Some of BROWN's customers, however, were unaware that heroin sold by BROWN also at times contained fentanyl. Multiple victims who bought fentanyl-laced heroin from BROWN were poisoned by BROWN's fentanyl and died. Specifically, BROWN's drugs caused a least two overdose deaths: (i) the death of a 33-year-old man on or about March 19, 2024, in New York, New York and (ii) the death of a 35-year-old woman on or about December 10, 2025, in Frankin Square, New York.

BROWN relied on multiple coconspirators to facilitate his drug trafficking. Multiple individuals sourced narcotics for BROWN, including in response to explicit requests from BROWN for fentanyl. BROWN also relied on multiple individuals to assist in the distribution of narcotics by delivering or reselling BROWN's narcotics, including fentanyl, to others.

On June 25, 2026, law enforcement searched Brown's room in a Manhattan hotel pursuant to a judicially authorized warrant. The search revealed a multitude of narcotics in pill and powder form, along with a duffel bag full of cash. Photographs of some of the seized items are shown below:

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BROWN, 55, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and two counts of distribution of narcotics resulting in death, all of which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Nassau County Police Department.

The case is being handled by the Office's Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Getzel Berger and Lauren Phillips are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.