Somerset Man Indicted for Fentanyl and Heroin Distribution Leading to the Death of a Victim

NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Somerset County man with drug offenses including distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Thomas Kane Miller, 40, of Somerset, New Jersey was charged by criminal indictment with one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor (4-ANPP), one count of distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, and two counts of distribution of fentanyl and heroin.  Miller’s initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for June 30, 2025, before Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court.

“The fentanyl epidemic has devastated communities across the country.  Too many lives have been lost, too many families have been broken. This poison has no place on our streets.  This office is unwavering in its pursuit of justice, and will relentlessly hold accountable anyone who traffics fentanyl or other deadly drugs in New Jersey — ensuring they face the full weight of the law for the destruction they cause.  The District of New Jersey continues to emphasize opioid enforcement, including with its Fentanyl Precursor Interception Strike Force that seeks to stem the tide of chemical precursors and adulterants used to manufacture fentanyl, and bring to justice individuals who sell this poison on our streets.”

- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba

“Today’s indictment against Thomas Miller reflects the determination the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those individuals who continue to poison our communities with fentanyl,” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Mr. Miller’s victim was more than just another statistic; it’s a life cut short by greed. The DEA is committed to holding these individuals accountable, especially when their actions result in the tragic loss of life.”

“This tragic loss of life is a stark reminder fentanyl-related deaths continue to plague our communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations New York acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “The lethal dangers posed by the illegal narcotics that traffickers are introducing to our communities cannot be overstated. This is why HSI New York, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that prioritize profit over American lives.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In October 2022, Miller distributed a mixture of fentanyl and heroin to an individual who died as a result of using the substance. Law enforcement located the deceased victim at a residence in Plainfield, New Jersey. Inside the residence were two wax folds containing fentanyl and heroin bearing a unique stamp which law enforcement linked to Miller.  Shortly before the victim’s death, the victim and Miller were communicating about arranging to meet.

Approximately 10 days before the victim’s death, Miller was found in possession of multiple wax folds bearing the same unique stamp and containing fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor. Miller also distributed fentanyl and heroin on two other occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, in Middlesex and Somerset Counties.

The count of drug distribution resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $1 million.  The counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, and distribution of fentanyl and heroin, each carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the New York DEA Strike Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino, III, special agents of HSI New York, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John P. McDonald, and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, with the investigation, leading to the charges.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The arrest was the result of an investigation by the New York Strike Force, a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud and Opioid Enforcement Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Timothy Donahue, Esq., Michael Alexander Thomas, Esq.