By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO
On November 21, a Flagler County jury found Brian Pirraglia guilty of First-Degree Murder by Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, following a three-day trial. After being convicted, he was sentenced by Judge Dawn Nichols to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The verdict came after a two-year investigation in which Flagler County Sheriff’s Office detectives determined Pirraglia was responsible for selling drugs laced with fentanyl to a Palm Coast man, resulting in his overdose death in February 2022. The investigation was led by Detective First Class Adam Gossett and involved FCSO’s Major Case Unit, Special Investigations Unit, Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Community Policing Division, and Real Time Crime Center, as well as the State Attorney’s Office – 7th Judicial Circuit’s Homicide Investigation Unit.
Sheriff Rick Staly had previously directed that all overdose deaths be investigated as homicide cases to hold drug dealers accountable for their actions. Since this directive, 11 individuals have been arrested for causing overdose deaths. So far, seven, including Pirraglia, have been convicted and sentenced to state prison.
“Thanks to our incredibly hard-working team, especially Detective Gossett, and our partners at the State Attorney’s Office who prosecuted this case, Brian Pirraglia will spend the rest of his life sitting in state prison and thinking about the consequences of his actions,” said Sheriff Staly. “We will continue to use every means possible to hold drug dealers accountable if they kill someone with their poison. If you are a poison peddler and sell a fatal dose in Flagler County, we are coming for you next.”
Well done!