BRENTWOOD, NY – Two men from Suffolk County have been indicted on multiple drug charges following an investigation that tied the sale of fentanyl pills to the fatal overdose of a Brentwood father earlier this year. Prosecutors say Steven Pesantez, 29, of Brentwood, and Isaiah Skees Pierre Louis, 27, of Bay Shore – who also goes by Isaiah Skees – are facing felony indictments for criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance.
The case began on February 12, 2025, when a four-year-old child found her father dead inside a Brentwood home. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner determined the man’s death was caused by fentanyl intoxication.
Investigators later focused on Skees as an alleged source of fentanyl-laced pills in the Amityville area. Detectives working undercover arranged three separate purchases from Skees between late February and early March. On two occasions, Skees was allegedly driven to the sale by Pesantez.
After one deal, Skees allegedly texted the undercover officer to ask how the product was received. When the officer pretended to dislike it, Skees responded by saying he no longer obtained the “crazy strong ones” because “my man caught a body off them.” That message came just six days after the Brentwood father’s death.
Pesantez was first arrested in July on an unrelated burglary charge involving his ex-girlfriend’s home. During a probation search of his residence, police say they found blue M30 pills resembling Percocet but suspected to be fentanyl, along with cocaine and a digital scale. The pills matched those Skees allegedly sold to undercover detectives.
On August 1, Skees was taken into custody for selling fentanyl pills and was allegedly found with fentanyl powder at the time of his arrest.
Both men have since been arraigned before Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro:
- Pesantez faces three counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, one attempted sale count, five counts of possession, and related charges. He is being held on bail set at $50,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $300,000 partially secured bond. If convicted on the top charge, he faces up to 12 years in prison. His attorney is George Duncan, Esq.
- Skees faces three counts of third-degree criminal sale, one attempted sale charge, four counts of possession, and additional offenses. His bail was set at $25,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $250,000 partially secured bond. If convicted on the top charge, he faces up to 9 years in prison. He is being represented by Pierre Bazile, Esq.
Both cases remain pending, with Pesantez due back in court on September 26 and Skees on October 1.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dana Gremaux of the Narcotics Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detective John McGlynn of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Narcotics Section, along with Detectives Kevin Keane and Kevin Gribbin of the First Precinct Squad.
Long Island’s Fentanyl Crisis
The arrests of Pesantez and Skees come against the backdrop of a fentanyl epidemic that has gripped communities across Long Island. Public health data show that fentanyl is now present in the majority of overdose deaths in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Authorities warn that the drug is often mixed into counterfeit pills made to resemble legitimate prescriptions such as Percocet or Oxycodone, as well as being blended with heroin or cocaine.
On Long Island, fentanyl-related overdoses have steadily climbed over the past decade, mirroring national trends but hitting suburban communities especially hard. In Suffolk County, health officials reported hundreds of fatal overdoses last year, with fentanyl detected in most cases. Nassau County has seen similar patterns, prompting both counties to expand naloxone distribution programs, public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with local schools to combat youth exposure.
Law enforcement agencies have ramped up undercover investigations and large-scale drug busts in an effort to cut off supply chains, while prosecutors have increasingly sought homicide-level charges when sales are linked directly to overdose deaths. Officials stress that the fentanyl crisis is no longer confined to traditional drug markets, as counterfeit prescription pills are appearing in high schools, colleges, and social circles where users may not realize the lethal risks.
The latest indictments underscore the ongoing challenge for both counties: tackling a synthetic opioid crisis that continues to devastate families, strain law enforcement, and reshape the landscape of drug use across Long Island.
