‘Unconscionable’: LI Man Indicted In Veteran’s Overdose Death, Accused Of Selling Fentanyl: DA

LINDENHURST, NY — A Holtsville man has been indicted after prosecutors say he sold fentanyl and cocaine that led to the fatal overdose of a U.S. Navy veteran — and continued dealing drugs even after learning of the man’s death, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Jaden Bholan, 24, was arraigned April 8 on a sweeping indictment charging him with multiple felonies tied to narcotics sales, drug possession, and weapons possession, according to the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors say Bholan sold fentanyl and cocaine on Jan. 20, in North Lindenhurst, to a 41-year-old Navy veteran who had served four overseas deployments and founded a nonprofit organization supporting fellow veterans in Suffolk County.

The man ingested the drugs and died later that same day, the DA’s office said.

Authorities say after becoming aware of the fatal overdose, Bholan continued to sell fentanyl and cocaine and even vouched for the potency of the drugs he was distributing.

When Suffolk County police attempted to apprehend Bholan at his Holtsville apartment on March 27, he fled and discarded eight grams of cocaine and fentanyl, along with two cellphones and a digital scale used to weigh narcotics, prosecutors said.

Officers also say they found him in possession of another cellphone and more than $2,000 in small denominations.

During the execution of a search warrant at the apartment, police recovered a loaded Glock handgun with a high-capacity ammunition feeding device, ammunition, and additional drug paraphernalia, according to the DA.

Prosecutors said the weapon was unsecured and located in an area accessible to a 3-year-old child who lives in the residence.

Bholan was indicted on multiple charges, including second-and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of second-degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and endangering the welfare of a child, DA said.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Philip Goglas ordered Bholan held on $300,000 cash, $600,000 bond, or a $3 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case.

He is due back in court May 15 and faces between 3 1/2 to 15 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

Bholan is represented by defense attorney David Besso, who was not immediately available for comment.

“A Navy veteran who served four deployments overseas and spent his time back home building an organization to help fellow veterans lost his life because this defendant allegedly chose to sell him poison,” Tierney said. “Even after learning of the veteran’s death, this defendant allegedly kept dealing, bragging in text messages about how potent his product was. We are still fighting the fentanyl epidemic, and our legislature needs to pass our Death by Dealer bill to allow us to hold dealers who sell this poison responsible for causing deaths. Although we are allowed to prosecute the drug sales, there is no additional time whatsoever for causing death. That is unconscionable.”