Two men have been arrested and charged in connection to the death of “Pose” actress and transgender activist Cecilia Gentili.
“Cecilia Gentili, a well-known advocate and leader of the New York transgender community, tragically died in her Brooklyn home from heroin laced with fentanyl,” stated Breon Peace, who is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. stated in a statement on Monday. “Today, the alleged perpetrators who sold the deadly dose of drugs to Gentili have been arrested.”
Peace added, “Fentanyl is a major public health crisis. Our office will spare no effort in seeking justice for the many New Yorkers who have lost loved ones due to this lethal drug.”
Two men, Michael Kuilan and Antonio Venti, have been charged with selling the heroin and fentanyl that led to Gentili’s death. Gentili’s longtime partner found her body in her bedroom on Feb. 6. Officials said her death was caused by a combination of “fentanyl, heroin, xylazine and cocaine.”
“Today’s indictment sends a strong message to anyone profiting from spreading illicit drugs in our communities: There are diligent investigators, from various agencies, working tirelessly to disrupt your disgraceful business by identifying the source of these illegal substances,” stated NYPD commissioner Edward A. Caban. “It is crucial that we continue to hold distributors responsible for their heartless actions. I commend the NYPD’s collaborators at the DEA and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for their ongoing dedication to this critical mission.”
Based on obtained text messages, cell site data, and other proof, Venti provided Gentili with the mixture of drugs on Feb. 5 and Kuilan gave the narcotics to Venti. During a search of Kuilan’s apartment, authorities discovered “hundreds of baggies of fentanyl, a handgun, and ammunition.”
Kuilan was charged with illegal gun possession, and both men are currently in custody and scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
