Federal authorities have charged Estherlyn Frias, also known as “Platinum” and “Silver,” with narcotics offenses resulting in death following the overdose of a person in Greenwich, Connecticut. The announcement was made by Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division. The case is 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.”
“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.”
According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, between January 2023 and July 2025 Frias allegedly conspired with others to distribute various controlled substances—including methamphetamine, fentanyl (and para-fluorofentanyl), cocaine base and powder cocaine, heroin, and methadone—from his Bronx apartment where he lived with his girlfriend and two young children.
Authorities allege that on or about July 1, 2025 one victim died from acute intoxication after purchasing fentanyl and cocaine from Frias outside his residence the previous day; text messages reportedly show ongoing drug sales between Frias (saved under “Platinum”) and the victim leading up to the fatal incident.
A search of Frias’s apartment on the night of Victim-1’s death led law enforcement officers to seize large quantities of narcotics—over 2,000 glassine envelopes containing fentanyl or para-fluorofentanyl; multiple bags containing heroin or methamphetamine; hundreds of capsules filled with crack cocaine; bottles containing methadone—and various items related to drug distribution such as packaging materials and a ledger tracking deals.
Investigators also found videos on Frias’s phones showing him retrieving drugs from a dresser located only feet away from where a child was sleeping.
Frias faces three counts: conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death (mandatory minimum 20 years imprisonment), possession with intent to distribute narcotics (mandatory minimum 10 years), and possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death (mandatory minimum 20 years). Maximum sentences could reach life imprisonment for each charge if convicted.
The statutory penalties are set by Congress but any final sentence will be determined by a judge.
Jay Clayton commended both the DEA and Greenwich Police Department for their investigative efforts on this case which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca R. Delfiner and Benjamin M. Burkett within the Office’s Narcotics Unit.
All charges remain allegations at this stage; Frias is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
