United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Edward Carrillo, also known as “Super Ed,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 10 ½ years’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute fentanyl in West Virginia.  The fentanyl the defendant distributed was linked to the overdose death of a young mother in April 2015.  Carrillo was arrested with eight other defendants in December 2016 for their role in a narcotics conspiracy that trafficked in a significant amount of crack cocaine in and around the Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing development in the United States.

James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) New York Division, Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police (NYPD) announced the sentence. 

“What started as a local investigation targeting a crack cocaine distribution organization turned into a murder mystery upon the death of a young pregnant mother in West Virginia,” DEA Special Agent in Charge James Hunt stated. “Fentanyl doesn’t discriminate against users, nor do drug dealers whose only concern is profit. Law Enforcement will continue to identify dealers and traffickers responsible for fueling opioid abuse and the rising number of fentanyl-related overdoses.”

 “The defendant peddled fentanyl from New York City to West Virginia with callous disregard for the human consequences of this dangerous drug,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rohde. “Carrillo’s sentence should serve as a message that fentanyl dealers who promote and profit from this deadly epidemic will be held accountable for their crimes.”

Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50.  The recent rise 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.  Opioids have been a particular problem in West Virginia, where the defendant and his co-conspirators trafficked substantial amounts of fentanyl.  One of those deaths was a young mother, whom Carrillo and his co-conspirators believed they killed with their fentanyl pills.  Upon learning of the young mother’s death, Carrillo’s co-defendant, Johnny Monroe, was intercepted over a judicially authorized wiretap stating, “I tried to hit another n---- with them, and the girl went out.”  When Carrillo asked what Monroe meant by “went out,” Monroe left no ambiguity that a young woman had died: “Went out! OD-OD . . . But, the n---- that sniffed the s--t liked it.  He said the girl   . . . was doing shit yesterday and she passed away, bro . . . of them s--ts.”      

In addition to his involvement in the fentanyl conspiracy, the defendant supplied a significant amount of the cocaine that was converted to crack and sold in the Queensbridge community.  He also agreed to commit an armed robbery of an individual believed to be traveling with $110,000.  When Carrillo was arrested in December 2016, law enforcement officers recovered a loaded gun at Carrillo’s apartment which he used as a grow house for marihuana. 

On November 16, 2017, co-defendant Terrell Carmichael was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute crack-cocaine.  The other defendants are awaiting sentencing. 
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Andrey Spektor and Lindsay K. Gerdes are in charge of the prosecution. 

The Defendants:
LASHAWN BALANCE, also known as “Flip”
Age: 41
Princeton, West Virginia

TERRELL CARMICHAEL, also known as “Rell”
Age: 31
Long Island City, New York

EDWARD CARRILLO, also known as “Super Ed”
Age: 43
Manhattan, New York

DARRYL KNOWLES
Age: 29
Bronx, New York

JOHNNIE MONROE, also known as “Nut”
Age: 46
Brooklyn, New York

KYLE WILLIAMS, also known as “Sleepy”
Age: 31
Long Island City, New York

MICHAEL YOUNG, also known as “Littles”
Age: 32
Long Island City, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-(BMC)