HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- An alleged Long Island drug dealer has been indicted on manslaughter charges in connection to three fatal overdoses.
Lavain Creighton, 51 of Greenport, has been hit with two counts of second-degree manslaughter, seven counts of third-degree criminal sale of a control substance and seven counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance.
A rash of fatal overdoses occurred on Long Island’s East End in August, including four that happened on or about Aug. 13, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.
An investigation found that Creighton allegedly sold drugs that caused two fatal overdoses and sold drugs to a third person who died of a fatal overdose.
The investigation found that on Aug. 12, Creighton allegedly got a text saying, “Yo, I think that stuff is cut with something weird. Having trouble keeping my eyes from movin around, giving me the spins. Just wanted to warn you.” Creighton responded, “Ok.”
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Minutes later, Creighton is accused of selling drugs to two others.
On Aug. 13, the three victims had died of overdoses, with toxicology reports showing traces of cocaine and a fentanyl analog.
Law enforcement agents also are said to have made undercover purchases from Creighton, adding that packaging found at an overdose victim’s home matched what they received.
“This is why we need a death by dealer statute,” District Attorney Tim Sini said. “We are being innovative in how we investigate and charge these cases – our Office is a leader in the state on both of those fronts – but we shouldn’t have to rely on additional evidence like that text message to hold a drug dealer accountable for killing someone.”
The DA’s office said three other fatal overdoses and several other non-fatal overdoses from August are still being investigated.
Creighton was arraigned in a Suffolk court Friday. If convicted of manslaughter, he faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years on each count, with a maximum sentence of up to nine years on each other his other offenses.
Creighton is not the only person who has been arrested in connection to the East End overdoses — Justin Smith, 46 of Smithtown, was allegedly a drug supplier to Creighton. He has been indicted on multiple charges and will return to court Sept. 13.