At least two men were charged in the February drug death of transgender author, actor, and activist Cecilia Gentili, Department of Justice officials said Monday.
Gentili, a biological male who identified as female, died on Feb. 6 following an overdose that stemmed from the consumption of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, according to a statement released from the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York.
“Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a four-count indictment was unsealed charging Michael Kuilan, 44, and Antonio Venti, 52, with distributing the heroin and fentanyl that caused the death of New York transgender activist, Cecilia Gentili,” the release said. “Kuilan is also charged with unlawful gun possession.”
Gentili’s body was discovered after the activist’s partner called police, who found Gentili dead in the bedroom.
“Gentili died due to the combined effect of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, and cocaine. Text messages, cell site data, and other evidence revealed that Venti sold the fentanyl and heroin mixture to Gentili on February 5, 2024, and Kuilan supplied Venti with those lethal narcotics,” according to the DOJ.
“In addition, law enforcement searched an apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn belonging to Kuilan and found hundreds of baggies of fentanyl, a handgun, and ammunition.”
The arrests of Venti and Kuilan demonstrate a commitment to bring to justice all those who profit from poisoning communities with illicit drugs, New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban said.
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“There are dedicated investigators, across multiple agencies, working tirelessly to disrupt your shameful industry by pinpointing the source of these unlawful substances,” according to Caban.
“It is imperative that we continue to hold distributors accountable for their callous actions. I commend the NYPD’s partners at the DEA and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York for their ongoing commitment to this critical mission.”