Bronx Man Charged With Selling Fentanyl That Killed 12-Year-Old Child and Two Adults

NEW YORK — A Bronx man faces federal narcotics charges after authorities say he sold fentanyl that killed three people including a child, according to a superseding indictment unsealed on June 1 in the Southern District of New York.

Aristides Cabrera, also known as “Buddha,” stands charged with distributing fentanyl resulting in the deaths of Alex DeFilippo, Kyla McCarthy and a 12-year-old victim whose name was not released. The overdoses all occurred on May 29 2022. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, DEA New York Task Force Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch announced the unsealing.

The indictment alleges Cabrera’s sales directly caused the three fatal poisonings. Under federal law, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life. Prosecutors must establish that the specific substance sold by the defendant was the but-for cause of each death.

The case forms part of ongoing federal efforts to hold street-level fentanyl distributors accountable for overdose deaths. The DEA and NYPD have for years prioritized investigations that link seized fentanyl to specific fatalities through toxicology, phone records and controlled purchases.

This is the latest charging document to use the death-results enhancement in the Southern District of New York. Federal prosecutors have filed similar indictments against dozens of New York City dealers since 2020 after the sharp rise in fentanyl-related fatalities.

The original complaint or indictment against Cabrera was superseded to add the death counts, a step that significantly raises the potential prison term and alters plea and trial strategy.

The superseding indictment was returned by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York. Cabrera’s next court appearance has not been scheduled. The case is assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and is being investigated by the DEA and NYPD.