Auburn Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter Charge Following Fatal Overdose of Friend

Auburn, NY - District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci announced today that Matthew CARNICELLI,  34, of the City of Auburn, pled guilty today before the Honorable Jon E. Budelmann, to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C Felony, for selling a fentanyl compound which resulted in the fatal overdose of the victim. He faces an indeterminate sentence of 3.5 to 7 years of imprisonment on that count. CARNICELLI also entered a guilty plea to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony and faces a sentence of 7 years determinate followed by 3 years of post-release supervision.

During his guilty plea, CARNICELLI admitted that on October 31, 2022, he consciously disregarded the known risk of a fatal overdose when he sold a bundle of heroin laced with a fentanyl compound, which caused the victim to suffer a fatal overdose, thereby recklessly causing the victim’s death. CARNICELLI confessed to selling a fentanyl compound to the victim, despite knowing that the victim was on prescription medication and had a higher risk of death. The day after the fatal overdose, CARNICELLI was found in possession of more than 1/8th of an ounce of fentanyl during a search of his home. He admitted during his plea that he knowingly possessed that fentanyl with the intent to sell it. Sentencing is scheduled for July 25, 2023.

Members of the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force investigated the fatal overdose of the victim that occurred on or about October 31, 2022, as well as executed a search warrant at CARNICELLI’S residence on November 1, 2022.

The co-defendant, Kelli MITCHELL, 31, of the City of Auburn, previously entered a guilty plea on February 23, 2023 to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B Felony, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2023. She faces 6 years of incarceration and 3 years of post-release supervision.

Both cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Britton Bouchard.

District Attorney Grome Antonacci commented: “This is the second time in our County’s history that our Office has been able to hold an admitted drug dealer criminally responsible for causing the fatal overdose of another. This defendant was on notice that the drugs he possessed and sold contained fentanyl. He was also aware that the victim took prescription medication, which when combined with fentanyl, could be fatal. Despite this knowledge, he sold the drugs to the victim, which is the epitome of recklessness. Part of our strategy in addressing the opioid epidemic is to target drug dealers who are causing fatal overdoses in our communities and hold them accountable for their actions. I strongly urge friends and family members of opiate overdose victims to reach out to their local legislators and push for legislation that will make it easier to prosecute those who bring these lethal drugs into our communities. I commend the thorough investigation conducted by the Finger Lakes Drug task Force, which is comprised of members of the Auburn Police Department, Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York State Police. We will continue to work closely with local law enforcement to bring justice in these cases.”

Matthew CARNICELLI

Kelli MITCHELL