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United States of America v. Estherlyn Frias a/k/a “Platinum,†a/k/a “Silverâ€
Date: 08-01-2025
Case Number:
Judge:
Court: The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for New York
Defendant's Attorney: Click Here For The Best New York, New York Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory
New York, New York criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Federal Narcotics Offenses Resulting In Death
Bronx Man Charged With Federal Narcotics Offenses Resulting In Death
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEAâ€), Frank A. Tarentino, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ESTHERLYN FRIAS, a/k/a "Platinum,†a/k/a "Silver,†with conspiring to distribute narcotics resulting in death in connection with the poisoning death—or "overdoseâ€â€”of a victim in Greenwich, Connecticut ("Victim-1â€). The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Kevin P. Castel.
"As alleged, Estherlyn Frias has been pumping deadly drugs into our communities for years, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and more,†said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "The drugs that he sold claimed someone's life, and it appears they may have claimed others before. Shockingly, Frias appears to have stored his significant drug supply in an apartment where his two young children lived with him, mere feet away from where they slept. Our communities' suffering from this kind of personal profit ends now. As the charges in this case show, together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who distribute illegal drugs.â€
"Another senseless death at the hands of an individual pushing illicit narcotics laced with fentanyl,†said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino. As alleged, Estherlyn Frias repeatedly trafficked and sold fentanyl laced products, going so far as to recklessly stash these deadly drugs in a bedroom where his children slept. While today's indictment against Mr. Frias will not bring back the person whose life was lost; it undoubtably represents a step towards justice and likely saved countless others. The DEA is committed to saving lives and will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners in targeting those responsible for poisoning our communities and destroying families.â€
As alleged in the Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:[1]
From at least in or about January 2023 through at least in or about July 2025, FRIAS and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, cocaine base, cocaine, heroin, and methadone, including from FRIAS's apartment in the Bronx, New York. FRIAS used that apartment—where his girlfriend and two young children resided—as a stash house, where he stored significant quantities of a variety of narcotics.
As a consequence of the drug conspiracy engaged in by FRIAS and his co-conspirators, Victim-1 died from acute fentanyl and cocaine intoxication on or about July 1, 2025. Victim-1 met FRIAS outside of FRIAS's apartment the day before to buy drugs. Within about twelve hours of their meeting, Victim-1 died from consuming fentanyl and cocaine purchased from FRIAS. FRIAS had been selling Victim-1 drugs for weeks in the lead-up to dealing the drugs that killed Victim-1. Below are text messages from Victim-1's phone in which FRIAS, saved in Victim-1's phone under his alias "Platinum,†sent Victim-1 a menu of the drugs that he had for sale, among them "soft†(heroin), "hard†(cocaine), "down†(fentanyl), and "everything.â€
Carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Estherlyn Frias a/k/a “...?
The outcome was: Carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison
Which court heard United States of America v. Estherlyn Frias a/k/a “...?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, NY.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Estherlyn Frias a/k/a “...?
Plaintiff's attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office for New York. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best New York, New York Criminal Defense Law Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Estherlyn Frias a/k/a “... decided?
This case was decided on August 1, 2025.