Two men have admitted to providing the lethal drugs that led to the death of prominent New York City transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, according to federal prosecutors on Monday.
In a case highlighting the dangers of fentanyl, Michael Kuilan, 44, and Antonio Venti, 52, pleaded guilty to charges of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, which ultimately caused Gentili’s death earlier this year, according to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace’s office.
Kuilan, from Brooklyn, entered his plea in federal court on Monday. Venti, who resides in Long Island, had already pleaded guilty to the same charges in July.
Prosecutors stated that both men confessed to their roles in Gentili’s death as part of their plea deals. Evidence, including text messages and cell site data, revealed that Kuilan supplied Venti with the drugs, which Venti then sold to Gentili.
The plea deals come after law enforcement officers searching Kuilan’s home discovered significant quantities of fentanyl, along with a handgun and ammunition, further implicating him in the drug trade.
While acknowledging that the guilty pleas cannot bring Gentili back, Frank Tarentino, the head of New York’s Drug Enforcement Administration, emphasized that these convictions serve as a warning.
“While these guilty pleas can’t undo the tragic loss of transgender rights activist Cecelia Gentili, it sends a message that we will do everything we can to make sure those responsible for drug related deaths face the consequences for their actions, and the families of those who lost their lives receive justice,” Tarentino said.
Gentili, a former sex worker-turned-prominent advocate for transgender rights, sex workers, and people living with HIV, was well-known in both the LGBTQ+ and entertainment communities. She had a role in the acclaimed FX series Pose, which depicted the underground ballroom scene of the 1980s and 1990s.
Gentili, 52, was found dead on February 6 in her bedroom, the day after purchasing drugs from Venti. A toxicology report revealed the 52-year-old Brooklyn resident’s death was due to the mix of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, and cocaine in her system.
Cecilia Gentili attends the 2023 New York City Pride Rally on June 17, 2023, in New York City. Two men have admitted to providing the lethal drugs that led to the death of prominent New York City transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, according to federal prosecutors on Monday.
John Nacion/Getty Images
Her death drew in a large crowd at her funeral held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan. However, some members of the Catholic community, including the church’s pastor, objected to the event being held at the historic cathedral.
Sentencing for Kuilan is scheduled for January, while Venti will face sentencing next month. Neither of the men’s legal representatives has commented on the case.
Gentili’s death comes as fentanyl remains a concern in the U.S. with a growing number of overdoses across the country as 18,000 pounds of fentanyl have been confiscated nationwide in the first 10 months of the 2024 fiscal year.
According to a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), law enforcement seizures of fentanyl increased dramatically between 2017 and 2023. In 2023, 115,562,603 pills containing fentanyl were seized by authorities, compared to only 49,657 in 2017.
Bryce Pardo, a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) research officer, previously told Newsweek the fentanyl crisis is a “significant public health issue.”
“The fentanyl crisis in the United States is extremely dangerous and has become a significant public health issue. Fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.
“Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are responsible for approximately 70% of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. The vast majority of these are due to illegally manufactured fentanyl and not diverted pharmaceutical products.”
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
