Long Island Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking, Distribution of Drugs Causing Death, and Illegal Possession of Firearms

Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Marlon Thompson was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 30 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl causing the death of a young Long Island man, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Long Island, and being a felon in possession of firearms.  Thompson was found guilty on all counts following a December 2022 jury trial.  

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Robert Waring, Acting Police Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the sentence.

“Today, Thompson was held accountable for the large quantities of fentanyl he distributed all over Suffolk County which had a devastating impact on the community, including the tragic poisoning death of a young man on Long Island,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “This Office, together with our federal and local partners, will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who contribute to this epidemic.”

"Today’s sentencing reflects the consequences to those who manufacture and distribute lethal narcotics, while tearing our communities apart” stated DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in making sure those responsible for poisoning our communities bear the heavy burden of the lives they have destroyed.”

“The lethalness of fentanyl is not a secret, and yet, this defendant continued to distribute the deadly drug at the expense of others to make a profit,” Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring said. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stem the flow of deadly opioids.”

"Opioid overdose deaths are at crisis levels in the United States and here in Suffolk County, where at least one of our residents dies every day from a fentanyl overdose. I appreciate the help from our federal partners at the Eastern District and the DEA in combating this scourge and I hope that this sentence brings some measure of closure to the family of Mr. Koenig," stated Suffolk County D.A. Raymond A. Tierney.

As proven at trial, from January 2017 through May 2019, the defendant conspired to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine base throughout Suffolk County.  On Christmas Day in 2018, the defendant supplied fentanyl to the victim, Freddy Koenig, who suffered a fatal overdose at his parents’ home in Selden, New York.  The defendant continued supplying fentanyl, heroin, and crack in Suffolk County for months after Koenig’s death.

When Thompson was arrested, law enforcement recovered fentanyl and drug packaging materials from his basement bedroom, and also seized three illegal guns, including a sawed-off shotgun, and ammunition from Thompson’s storage unit. The government’s evidence included testimony from Thompson’s co-conspirators, text messages between the defendant and drug dealers discussing their illicit business, drug paraphernalia, and thousands of dollars of bundled U.S. currency derived from the drug sales seized from the defendant’s residence.

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Alessi, Gabriel Park and Catherine M. Mirabile are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Adam Bernard.

The Defendant:

MARLON THOMPSON
Age: 42
Selden, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 19-CR-596 (S-1) (JMA)