CONGERS, NY – In a development in the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis, Justin Turnick, a 25-year-old resident of Congers, New York, has pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, a powerful and deadly synthetic opioid. The plea was entered earlier today before U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern in the Southern District of New York.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, made the announcement, underscoring the devastating impact of Turnick’s actions. “Justin Turnick’s actions didn’t just facilitate addiction—they fueled a crisis that claimed lives and inflicted unimaginable suffering. As we move forward, this Office remains resolute in its mission to combat the fentanyl epidemic and seek justice for the families and individuals affected by these deadly substances,” Williams stated.
Turnick’s distribution activities between February 2020 and April 2022 led to six fentanyl poisonings in Rockland County, three of which were fatal. The victims included Gustaf Olsen, who died on February 3, 2020; Jonathan Shashoua, who died on July 11, 2020; and Ione Koenig, who succumbed to the drug on July 31, 2021, a day after suffering severe poisoning. Three others experienced non-fatal poisonings.
The court documents and statements revealed that Turnick engaged in the regular distribution of various forms of fentanyl, including pills, pure fentanyl, and fentanyl-laced powder, to his community in Rockland County. His distribution network included friends, partners, and acquaintances, highlighting a disturbing pattern of spreading the lethal drug within his social circles.
Turnick has pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. This charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, with a potential maximum sentence of 40 years. As part of his plea, Turnick acknowledged that the fentanyl he distributed resulted in the deaths and poisonings of multiple victims.
The investigation and prosecution of this case involved several law enforcement agencies. U.S. Attorney Williams praised the exceptional efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office. He also expressed gratitude to the Ramapo Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for their support.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison and Kathryn Wheelock of the White Plains Division.