Two plead guilty in drug case related to death of transgender activist

Two men pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to distributing heroin and fentanyl that led to the death of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili in Brooklyn earlier this year. Michael Kuilan and Antonio Venti admitted they supplied the deadly drugs that caused Gentili's death on Feb. 6.

Kuilan, 44, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty Monday to distribution of heroin and fentanyl and possession of a firearm as a felon. His co-defendant, Venti, 52, of West Babylon, pleaded guilty to drug charges on July 30, 2024. Both men are scheduled to be sentenced, Venti on October 16, and Kuilan on January 22, 2025.

“The perpetrators of the tragic poisoning of Cecilia Gentili, a prominent leader of New York's transgender community, have now both admitted their guilt in selling the deadly drugs that caused this heartbreaking death,” said Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Peace added, “These drugs, heroin and fentanyl, have caused so much suffering in our community. I hope this case will provide some sense of closure to Gentili's family and serve as a warning that this office will be relentless in holding fentanyl traffickers accountable.”

According to court documents, Gentili was found dead in her Brooklyn home from a mixture of fentanyl, xylazine, cocaine and heroin. Investigators found that Venti sold the drugs to Gentili on February 5, 2024, after receiving them from Kuilan. Police also found hundreds of baggies of fentanyl and a firearm in Kuilan's Williamsburg apartment.

Both men now await sentencing for their roles in the case, which was prosecuted by the International Drug Enforcement and Money Laundering Section of the Eastern District of New York.

Gentili, a prominent transgender activist, artist and author, died on February 6 at the age of 52. Born in Argentina, Gentili overcame tremendous personal struggles, including sexual abuse, addiction and homelessness, to become an influential advocate for marginalized communities.

She immigrated to the United States in 2000 and, after some difficult times, began her advocacy work, particularly for transgender people, sex workers and immigrants. Over the course of her career, she has worked at the Apicha Community Health Center and GMHC, among others, where she made significant progress in health care and policy for the LGBTQ+ community.

In addition to her advocacy, Gentili was also a talented storyteller and performer. Her personal experiences shaped her activism and creative endeavors, leading to the publication of her book, Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn't My Rapist. In addition to her political work, she was known for her dynamic performances, including appearances on the FX series Pose.