United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, a two-count indictment was unsealed charging Ryan Mueller, of Lynbrook, New York, with distributing fentanyl that caused the death of a victim (Victim‑1) and with conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone.  Mueller was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Darren B. McCormack, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner Nassau County Police Department (PDCN) announced the arrest and the charges. 

“As alleged, the defendant purposely disguised fentanyl to look like prescription drugs and sold them to unsuspecting customers, leading to the poisoning death of a Long Island resident,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “The defendant’s callous disregard for human life in pushing deadly drugs on to the streets of Long Island concealed as prescription drugs has contributed to the alarming opioid epidemic that has continued to harm communities in this district.”  

“Today’s arrest shows the commitment the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those individuals who are poisoning our communities. Fentanyl is a lethal drug that dealers mix into their product knowing the harmful effects it presents to those using it, including death” stated DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “We will continue to bring those responsible for this deadly distribution to justice.”

“It is appalling how criminals attempt to profit from the distribution of fentanyl which has led to a rising number of overdose and poisoning fatalities,” said HSI New York acting Special Agent in Charge Darren B. McCormack. “HSI New York continues to prioritize investigations into individuals and organizations that intentionally misrepresent fentanyl, heroin and other dangerous opioids as prescription drugs, having a devastating impact on the health of our citizens and the safety of our neighborhoods. Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI New York is committed to crippling and dismantling the illicit drug supply chains plaguing our American communities.”

“Today’s indictment of defendant Ryan Mueller for selling Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine and Oxycodone to numerous individuals and lead to the death of a 49 year old Elmont man is a clear message that these crimes will never be tolerated.  In addition, Defendant Mueller was also in possession of numerous illegal firearms in which he is also being charged with.  Law Enforcement continues to work together to bring these criminals to justice, thus keeping our communities and neighborhoods safe.  I would like to congratulate all of the dedicated law enforcement professionals and their agencies for a job well done,” stated Nassau County Police Department Commissioner Ryder. 

According to court filings, over the last several years, the defendant conspired with others to sell several controlled substances, including heroin, cocaine, oxycodone, and fentanyl.  The investigation revealed that in December 2022, a 49-year-old individual (Victim-1) died of a drug-related overdose at his residence in Elmont, Long Island.  Additional investigation showed that the fentanyl that killed Victim-1, which was in a pressed pill that made it appear to be oxycodone, was sold to the victim by the defendant.  During the investigation, law enforcement officers recovered several kilos of fentanyl from the defendant’s home. Law enforcement also recovered multiple pill press parts from another location controlled by the defendant, including powder dryers, blenders, and grinders.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Justice, in 2019, nearly 71,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States.  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 2019, over 14,000 people died in the United States from a drug overdose involving heroin.  From 2013 to 2019, the synthetic opioid death rate increased by more than 1,000 percent.  Of those deaths, over 70% involved a prescription or illicit opioid.  Among New York State residents, the number of overdose deaths involving any opioid increased each year between 2010 and 2017, with an overall increase of 200.2 percent from 1,074 in 2010 to 3,224 in 2017, according to the New York State Health Department.   If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or Findtreatment.gov.

If convicted on the charges in the indictment, the defendant faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Adam R. Toporovsky is in charge of the prosecution.