Poisoning of America, Inc.

10/19/2026

Raleigh man sentenced to federal prison for fatal fentanyl poisoning in 2023

By Kristen Johnson
October 18, 2026
The News & Observer

A Raleigh man was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for distributing fatal drugs in 2023.

File photo The News & Observer A Raleigh man was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that lead to the 2023 fentanyl poisoning of a 26-year-old man, federal prosecutors announced. Kenneth Omar Roger Chung, 53, also known as “Skully,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Chung previously pleaded guilty in May to the distribution charge, as well as conspiracy to possess with intent to sell fentanyl, methamphetamine, and co***ne.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the investigation began on March 28, 2023, when Raleigh police officers found the victim, who was not publicly identified, dead with he**in, Xanax, and “purple fentanyl powder” in his backpack. Investigators traced the fatal dose back to Chung through text messages on the victim’s cellphone, prompting law enforcement to conduct a series of undercover drug buys from Chung and a co-defendant.
A string of fatal overdoses Court records connect Chung’s drug operation to two additional fatal overdoses in Wake County just months later in October 2023. A Cary man died after Chung allegedly delivered crack co***ne to him. A little over two weeks later, on Oct. 23, Raleigh police responded to Chung’s apartment and found his roommate unresponsive. The roommate later died. Following the roommate’s death, investigators raided Chung’s apartment two days later. Officers seized significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, he**in, co***ne, ma*****na, and four fi****ms, leading to his arrest. In a news release, Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce said “we worked to disrupt the illegal drug trade, remove dangerous drugs from our community, and protect the people we serve.” The prosecution is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a The United States Department of Justice initiative targeting criminal organizations. . Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer DURHAM COUNTY Three proposed Durham housing projects get board’s OK. Why a fourth did not. October 15, 2026 11:55 AM ELECTIONS Voting in Durham this election? Here’s who and what’s on the ballot October 14, 2026 11:53 AM Kristen Johnson The News & Observer 919-829-4532 Kristen Johnson is a local government reporter covering Durham for The News & Observer. She previously covered Cary and western Wake County. Prior to coming home to the Triangle, she reported for The Fayetteville Observer and spent time covering politics and culture in Washington, D.C. She is an alumna of UNC at Charlotte and American University.

Read more at:

The 53-year-old man was linked to multiple Wake County overdose deaths in 2023, federal authorizes say.

10/19/2026

NYC college student dies after being drugged, r***d in dorm room, lawsuit claims
By Joe Calabrese
FOX 5 NY
Crime and Public Safety
Published
October 17, 2026 4:10 PM EDT

Pills containing fentanyl are displayed at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Northeast Regional Laboratory for testing in New York, on May 7, 2026.
(Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)

The Brief
Moises Freire and Brian Peralta Cabrera have been charged in connection with the death of a New York City college student after she was drugged and r***d in her dorm room.
The lawsuit claims Freire gave two girls fentanyl he claimed was just co***ne, then r***d one of the women when they both passed out.
Officials accused Peralta Cabrera of supplying the fentanyl.
NEW YORK - Two New York City men have been charged in connection with the fatal drugging and r**e of a college student in a Manhattan dorm room earlier this year.

What we know:
The incident happened back in March, according to a superseding indictment announced Friday.

According to prosecutors, Moises Freire and Brian Peralta Cabrera conspired to give two students fentanyl, with Freire allegedly wanting to get them addicted. Peralta Cabrera is accused of supplying Freire with the drug.

Then, on March 18, officials said Freire brought the fentanyl to an undergraduate dorm and gave it to the two women, claiming that it was only co***ne. After both women passed out from the drug, Freire allegedly r***d one of them.

Freire eventually contacted campus security, court documents claim, but not before he allegedly spent 45 minutes taking pictures of the unconscious women and sending them to others. When Freire did call for help, officials said he claimed the women had passed out because they were drunk.

First responders took both women to the hospital. Days later, on March 21, the woman Freire is accused of ra**ng died. The Medical Examiner determined she died from acute fentanyl intoxication.

The second woman eventually regained consciousness and was later discharged.

‘Beyond disturbing’ charges
What they're saying:
In announcing the charges this week, one DEA official called the allegations against the two men "beyond disturbing," saying that they "include a cruel deception and unimaginable assault."

"College should be a place where young people can learn, grow and pursue their dreams, not a place where predators exploit their vulnerability," said Christopher Roberts, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Task Force Division.

New York State Police commissioner Jessica Tisch called the crimes "as sick and twisted as they come."

NYC men charged with supplying fentanyl, r**e
Dig deeper:
Both Freire and Peralta have been charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Freire has additionally been charged with distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and serious bodily injury and distribution with the intent to r**e.

Each charge carries a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.

According to The Associated Press Freire and Peralta Cabrera were arrested in March and pleaded not guilty to charges not including the r**e. They have not yet been arraigned on the new indictment.

A third defendant, Harry Rosales Pino, pleaded guilty to a distribution charge related to the case, according to The AP, and is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

What we don't know:
Neither victim has been identified.

While the school has not been identified in court records, according to the AP, a defense lawyer mentioned in a hearing that the alleged attack happened in a Fashion Institute of Technology dorm.

Freire was not a student at FIT, according to The AP.

10/19/2026

10/18/2026

Red Ribbon Week honors Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was kidnapped, held captive, tortured, and murdered by drug traffickers in 1985. His legacy lives on as schools and communities unite to educate children about the dangers of drugs and protect young lives.

Red Ribbon Week is a powerful event for schools nationwide because it brings students, families, educators, and law enforcement together with one shared purpose: protecting children from the dangers of drugs.
It opens the door to age-appropriate conversations about drug prevention, peer pressure, counterfeit pills, and the risks of taking unknown substances. It also gives students opportunities to practice healthy decision-making, identify trusted adults, and learn how to seek help for themselves or a friend.

Beyond wearing red, schools can make the week meaningful through classroom discussions, parent education, student activities, and partnerships with local prevention organizations.
When schools turn awareness into year-round education and action, Red Ribbon Week can help build safer, more informed communities—and save lives. Search for great ideas to add to your week

Show your support and raise awareness with a Poisoning of America, Inc. 24" x 18" lawn sign. Red Ribbon Week | October 23–31 Poisoning of America, Inc. supports Red Ribbon Week—a time for remembrance, prevention, and a commitment to protecting Americans through education and community involvemen...

10/17/2026

Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Dismantles Drug Trafficking Network in Southeast Louisiana

October 16, 2026

“This investigation began on the ground with our local police officers and deputies, and as the network unraveled, we expanded it into a full Homeland Security Task Force operation,” said Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Orleans Field Division. “There is often a misconception that federal resources are reserved only for major metropolitan areas. This case proves otherwise. The full weight and reach of the federal government extends directly into our rural communities and parish neighborhoods. Through the HSTF, we brought every federal, state, and local tool to bear – not just to make arrests, but to build rock-solid cases that resulted in real, long-term prosecutions.”

Specifically, this investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately:

• 46,909.33 grams of crystal methamphetamine (more than 100 pounds)
• 178.6 grams of he**in/fentanyl
• 1,414.1 grams of co***ne (more than 3 pounds)
• 3,044.1 grams of ma*****na (more than 6.5 pounds)
• More than $190,000 in seized assets
• Eleven fi****ms, including eight pistols and three ri**es

Thank you to our brave LEO’s

• Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA (Lead Agency)
• Thibodaux Police Department
• Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office
• Louisiana State Police
• Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office
• St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office
• Bureau of Alcohol, To***co, Fi****ms and Explosives ATF
• Department of Homeland Security
• Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office
• Assumption Parish Sheriff's Office

https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2026/10/16/homeland-security-task-force-investigation-dismantles-drug-trafficking