Police and federal agents have arrested six people in connection with the death of HQ Trivia co-founder Colin Kroll.
Kroll wasfound deadin his New York City Apartment on Dec. 16, 2018. He died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, PEOPLE confirmed. He was 34.
On Wednesday, six members of an alleged drug delivery service — Christian Baez, 33, Luis Meson, 31, Gregoris Martinez, 34, Kevin Grullon, 25, Joiffrey Urena, 27, and Ariel Tavarez, 38 — called Mike’s Candyshop were arrested and charged with distributing heroin and cocaine — that included a dose that resulted in Kroll’s death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced,ABC Newsreported.
Kroll was allegedly a customer of Mike’s Candyshop — an alleged drug trafficking organization that delivered heroin and cocaine on demand to customers in New York City.
“As alleged, these defendants operated a covert on-demand delivery service for the distribution of highly addictive and dangerous drugs,” U.S. Attorney Geoff Berman said, according to ABC News.
Isaac Brekken/Getty Images
The charge brought against Baez, Meson, Martinez, Grullon, Urena and Tavarez carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, ABC News reported. They appeared before a judge in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
A contact for Mike’s Candyshop could not immediately be found.
Colin Kroll.Getty Images
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner ruled in a statement released in February that Kroll’s death was accidental and due to acute intoxication from the mixed drugs.
“So sad to hear about the passing of my friend and co-founder Colin Kroll,” he wrote. “My thoughts & prayers go out to his loved ones. I will forever remember him for his kind soul and big heart. He made the world and internet a better place. Rest in peace, brother.”
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Kroll co-founded Vine, which he left in 2014 and which was later discontinued. Kroll started as HQ Trivia’s chief technology officer in 2017 and became CEO in September 2018.
Kroll also worked for Jetsetter and Yahoo, according toThe New York Times.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
