Rockland County Man Sentenced To Over 21 Years In Prison For Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted In Six Poisonings, Including Multiple Deaths

 

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JUSTIN TURNICK was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern to over 21 years in prison.  TURNICK previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl.  In his plea agreement, TURNICK took responsibility for distributing fentanyl that resulted in three fatal fentanyl poisonings and three non-fatal fentanyl poisonings of teenagers and young adults between February 2020 and April 2022 in Rockland County, New York.  

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Justin Turnick’s actions didn’t just facilitate addiction—they fueled a crisis that has claimed lives and inflicted unimaginable suffering.  The career prosecutors of this Office and our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration and in local law enforcement remain resolute in our mission to combat the fentanyl epidemic and to seek justice for those who have suffered.” 

According to the allegations in the Indictment, Court filings, and statements made in Court:

TURNICK engaged in the regular distribution of narcotics to members of his community in Rockland County, New York, including his friends, partners, and acquaintances.  TURNICK knowingly distributed fentanyl — a deadly and highly potent opioid — in various forms, including fentanyl that had been packaged into pills, pure fentanyl, and fentanyl-laced powder.

TURNICK distributed fentanyl that resulted in three fatal and three non-fatal poisonings:

1. On or about February 3, 2020, Gustaf Olsen died at age 19 as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK.
2. On or about July 11, 2020, Jonathan Shashoua died at age 22 as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK.
3. On or about January 5, 2021, an 18-year-old girl experienced a non-fatal poisoning as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK.
4. On or about July 30, 2021, Ione Koenig experienced a non-fatal poisoning as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK.
5. On or about July 31, 2021, Ione Koenig died at age 18 as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK.
6. On or about April 19, 2022, a 23-year-old man experienced a non-fatal poisoning as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK.

In addition to the prison sentence, TURNICK, 26, of Congers, New York, was sentenced to 5 years of supervised release.

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office.  He also thanked the Ramapo Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the Putnam County Sherriff’s Department, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for their support and assistance in this matter.