A New York State narcotics investigator was arrested on November 21st for allegedly tipping off a fentanyl drug dealer, aiding in evading law enforcement, and lying to federal investigators. The investigator, Michael O’Flaherty, 42 years old from Poughkeepsie, is facing four charges, with a maximum sentence of several decades.
According to the indictment issued by federal prosecutor Damian Williams in the Southern District of New York on Thursday, O’Flaherty is accused of disclosing details of an investigation conducted by state and federal authorities in Dutchess County, Upstate New York, in 2022 to a fentanyl distributor he had a personal relationship with. He not only advised the distributor to destroy evidence but also helped to uncover confidential informant identities and other investigative details.
O’Flaherty also allegedly tried to conceal his relationship with the distributor, failing to inform his superiors about their private meetings and exchanges of calls and messages. When questioned by federal investigators, he further faces charges of lying and denying his ties to the distributor.
O’Flaherty was arrested on the morning of November 21st and charged with two counts of obstructing justice, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years, as well as two counts of making false statements, with a maximum penalty of 20 years for each charge.