NEW HAVEN — A Shelton man faces up to five years behind bars after taking a federal plea deal in a case prompted by a deadly overdose in Seymour.
The defendant, 27-year-old Kamil Golebiowski, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing alprazolam, aka Xanax, before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall Monday.
According to a prepared statement from U.S. Attorney John Durham, the charges stem from an investigation prompted by the July 9, 2017 overdose death of a 29-year-old man in Seymour.
An autopsy determined the man died from “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine, etizolam, fentanyl, flubromazolam and heroin,” Durham said.
Durham said investigators analyzed the victim’s cell phone and “identified two individuals who purchased heroin and what they believed to be Xanax pills for the victim shortly before the victim died. Golebiowski was subsequently identified as a source of supply for Xanax pills.”
Investigators made several “controlled purchases” of Xanax pills from Golebiowski between last August and May, Durham said, which were revealed to be counterfeit after analysis.
“In early June 2018, investigators intercepted two packages mailed from Canada and addressed to Golebiowski,” Durham said. “The packages contained approximately 1,400 counterfeit Xanax pills.”
Durham said Golebiowski faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing, scheduled for January 4, 2019.
He was arrested June 19, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, Shelton police, and Seymour police, with help Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users,” Durham said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.
