Mon Sep 23 23:23:30 UTC 2024: ## Two Men Plead Guilty in Death of Transgender Activist Cecilia Gentili
**NEW YORK** – Two men have pleaded guilty to providing the lethal drugs that resulted in the death of prominent transgender activist Cecilia Gentili earlier this year, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
Michael Kuilan, 44, of Brooklyn, and Antonio Venti, 52, of Long Island, admitted to charges of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
According to U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, Kuilan supplied Venti with the drugs, which Venti then sold to Gentili. Evidence, including text messages and cell site data, confirmed their roles in the tragic event.
Gentili, a former sex worker turned advocate for transgender rights, sex workers, and those living with HIV, was widely known in the LGBTQ+ community and the entertainment industry. She appeared in the acclaimed FX series *Pose*, which highlighted the underground ballroom scene of the 1980s and 1990s.
Gentili was found dead in her bedroom on February 6th, the day after purchasing drugs from Venti. A toxicology report revealed the cause of death was a lethal combination of fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, and cocaine.
Frank Tarentino, head of New York’s Drug Enforcement Administration, emphasized the seriousness of the convictions, stating that while they cannot bring Gentili back, they send a strong message about the consequences of drug-related deaths.
“This conviction sends a message that we will do everything we can to make sure those responsible for drug-related deaths face the consequences for their actions, and the families of those who lost their lives receive justice,” Tarentino said.
Kuilan is scheduled for sentencing in January, while Venti will be sentenced next month.
Gentili’s death serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States. Nationwide, seizures of fentanyl have skyrocketed in recent years, with 18,000 pounds confiscated in the first 10 months of the 2024 fiscal year. The potent synthetic opioid is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45.
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