Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Marquis Douglas, a narcotics trafficker who operated a drug business that was responsible for the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, along with other illicit substances throughout the North Fork of Long Island, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert to conspiring to distribute controlled substances and the distribution of controlled substances resulting in death. Douglas was charged in June 2022.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the guilty plea.
“Today, Douglas has admitted his role in a large scale narcotics distribution operation as well as his role in the distribution of fentanyl laced cocaine that led to the deaths of four men in a single day,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We hope today’s guilty plea begins to bring a measure of solace to the victims’ families.”
Mr. Peace also extended his thanks to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Riverhead Police Department, the Southold Police Department, the Shelter Island Police Department, and the New York State Police for their assistance in the investigation.
According to court filings and statements made during today’s proceeding, Douglas orchestrated a years’ long conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, 280 grams of crack cocaine, 40 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of fentanyl analogues. In August of 2021, Douglas’ operation distributed a quantity of cocaine laced with a fentanyl analogue in Greenport, New York. When this cocaine was re-distributed at the street level, it ultimately led to four fatal overdoses on a single day across Greenport and Shelter Island. When apprehended in Suffolk County on May 5, 2022, Douglas was found in possession of large, sellable quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. When sentenced, Douglas faces up to life in prison.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Maffei, Andrew P. Wenzel, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dana Gremaux.
