DA McMahon Announces Arrest In First-Of-Its-Kind Drug Smuggling Case Involving Transfer Of Fentanyl, Other Narcotics, Into Correctional Facilities Through Drug-Laced Court Paperwork

Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon Announces Indictment of Adam Kamagate, Curtis Braswell in First-Of-Its-Kind Drug Smuggling Case Involving Transfer of Fentanyl, Other Narcotics Into Correctional Facilities Through Drug-Laced Court Paperwork

Braswell Allegedly Delivered Drugs to Kamagate Through Court Documents Infused with Liquid Fentanyl, Cocaine, and PCP in Staten Island Supreme Courthouse; Kamagate Faces Up to 30 Years in Prison While Braswell Faces Up to 20 Years Behind Bars After Indictment on Charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 1st Degree

Kamagate Remains Behind Bars as a Result of Manslaughter Charge Against Him After Overdose Death of His Infant Son in February 2023

On Thursday, Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon announced the indictment and arrest of Adam Kamagate and Curtis Braswell in a first-of-its-kind case after the duo is alleged to have transferred court paperwork infused in liquid fentanyl, cocaine, and PCP inside Staten Island’s Supreme Courthouse in an effort to bring the deadly narcotics onto Rikers Island.

The pair face a host of charges including Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, an A-1 Felony and the only bail-eligible drug charge in New York State. “As the fentanyl crisis rages across our nation and here at home, we are all too familiar with the lengths those involved in the drug trade will go to avoid detection. But this plot was a new and terrible surprise,” said District Attorney McMahon.

“Despite this pair’s depraved creativity, it was ultimately no match for my office and our partners in the Department of Correction, who through incredible investigative work rooted out their plan and now intend to hold them fully accountable while sending a message to the rest of the city and nation of this new threat.”

The plot was revealed in September 2023, as Department of Correction (DOC) Investigators confiscated documents being transferred from Braswell to Kamagate after learning of the plot through phone calls made by Kamagate on Rikers Island. This led to further investigation by RCDA Assistant District Attorneys Kate Malloy and Rhiannon La Tour alongside DOC, which revealed at least two other incidents where Braswell and Kamagate attempted to carry out similar transfers earlier in the summer.

“The fentanyl epidemic is plaguing our country, and we must do everything we can to stop those who are exacerbating the crisis and hold them accountable,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “I commend the unwavering dedications of New York’s Boldest at the Department of Correction for their thorough investigative work and District Attorney McMahon for bringing these individuals to justice. Now more than ever, we must work together to prosecute those exploiting individuals battling substance abuse to the fullest extent of the law.”

“I applaud our Correction Officers for their outstanding investigative efforts that prevented this deadly narcotic from entering our jails. Fentanyl kills, and it has no place inside our jails where unfortunately many persons in custody have a history of substance abuse,” said Department of Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie. “The actions of our Boldest heroes, and their collaboration with our partners in law enforcement at the Richmond Country District Attorney’s office have saved countless lives. I thank District Attorney McMahon for his work to hold these individuals accountable. Keeping fentanyl out of our jails is critical to the safety of our staff and those in our care.”

“Despite standing accused of the horrific and tragic overdose death of his infant son while under his care one year ago, Kamagate remained shamelessly engaged in the drug trade, and is now accused of peddling a poison 100 times stronger than morphine in our courthouse,” continued District Attorney McMahon. “While I will always seek to find alternative, rehabilitative sentences for those battling addiction illness, we will never relent in pursuing stiff consequences for those who seek to profit off the pain of those with substance use disorders.”

District Attorney McMahon extended his sincere gratitude to Trials Deputy Bureau Chief Kate Malloy, Special Victims Bureau Chief Rhiannon La Tour, and First Executive Assistant District Attorney Thomas Ridges for their remarkable work on this case. He also extended special gratitude to Department of Correction Special Investigation Unit Investigator Julien Sampson, whose determined work set this case in motion.

The full list of charges filed against the defendants can be found in the accompanying Indictment.

*An indictment is an accusatory instrument. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.*

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