WHITE PLAINS – A 31-year-old Middletown man pled guilty in White Plains federal court to importing and selling synthetic opioids and fentanyl from Hong Kong and making false statements to authorities regarding the proceeds of his offenses.
Chukwuemeka Okparaeke, also known as “Emeka,” admitted that in November 2016, he sold a synthetic opioid to a person who died from an overdose of the drug.
He also admitted that his narcotics offenses involved over nine kilograms of acryl fentanyl, seven kilos of synthetic opioid, over one kilo of furanyl fentanyl; and 12 grams of another synthetic drug.
As part of his guilty plea, he agreed to forfeit 680 bitcoins worth some $7.3 million, in proceeds generated by his illicit narcotics sales.
When sentenced in December, he faces 20 years in prison.
