Cause of first NYC jail death in 2025 revealed as drug overdose
The first person to die in a city jail in 2025 was killed by an overdose of synthetic marijuana, or 'K2,' once again highlighting the ease with which contraband enters the jails, the Daily News has learned.
Ramel Powell, 38, died Feb. 19 at the Otis Bantum Correctional Center of 'acute MDMB-4en-PINACA intoxication,' the city's Medical Examiner office reported Tuesday, using the technical language for synthetic weed. The office classified his death as accidental.
Powell's was the first of six in-custody deaths so far in 2025 either in a jail, a court holding pen or a hospital unit after the person fell into medical distress in the jails.
'The Department of Investigation has issued multiple reports outlining what our members know — the primary source of drugs on Rikers is not mail or visitors, but the one source DOC refuses to address — their own staff,' said Sarita Daftary, co-director of the Freedom Agenda, an advocacy group.
The ME's office also disclosed that Soso Ramashvili, 32, who died March 21 in Kings County Criminal Court, suffered a severe inflammation in the abdomen from a perforated ulcer — officially, 'acute peritonitis due to perforated duodenal ulcer due to peptic ulcer disease.'
Ramashvili had been arrested on a shoplifting charge. He was also accused of possession of a small amount of cocaine. He was held for three days prior to arraignment, apparently shuttling between police facilities and the hospital. Advocates called for an investigation back in March.
'Soso Ramashvili was detained and processed on a charge that should have resulted in an appearance ticket. Instead, he was effectively condemned to a death sentence — repeatedly denied the medical care he urgently needed,' said Meghna Philip, director of the Special Litigation Unit in the criminal defense practice at the Legal Aid Society.
'The NYPD clearly violated the law by processing and holding him in custody far beyond what was legally permitted. The callous disregard law enforcement continues to show for the lives and rights of New Yorkers is deeply disturbing.'
The NYPD did not immediately reply to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Powell was arrested for a May 8, 2023 slashing on the Lower East Side and sent to Rikers that July. After his death, The News reported a reason for his extended detention was that he had changed lawyers four times.
He has also spent time in an upstate psychiatric facility after a judge ruled he was not mentally fit to stand trial.
The Correction Department declined to comment on Powell's cause of death, citing an ongoing investigation. But the agency has recently renewed a push to tighten security around mail citing a smuggling tactic where pages of letters or books are soaked with narcotics.
In 2023, a previous effort which would have led to the electronic scanning of all detainee mail was blocked by the Board of Correction, when a majority of members declined to put the measure up for a vote.
The new proposal would allow the Correction Department to open and search non-legal mail outside of the view of detainees.
Latima Johnson, a DOC spokeswoman, said the agency is continuing to urge the Board of Correction for approval of the new mail measure.
'Synthetic narcotics present a challenge to correctional institutions across the country,' she said. 'These substances do not have stable chemical compositions nor any scent so K9 [drug sniffing dogs] cannot detect them. These substances are also extremely dangerous to the people who live and work in our jails.'
The causes of death in the other four cases remain pending. Those include Terence Moore, who suffered a fatal seizure Feb. 24 in Manhattan Criminal Court, Sonia Reyes, who died March 20 at the West Facility on Rikers Island, and Ibrahim Diallo who died March 26 at Manhattan Criminal Court.
The ME's office also has yet to issue a cause of death in the case of Ariel Quidone, 20, who died March 15 at Elmhurst Hospital after just eight days in jail on Rikers, where he fell into medical distress. His family has said he suffered a burst appendix and has alleged it was not properly treated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
20 minutes ago
- New York Post
Crypto bros in twisted kidnap, torture case hosted wild sex parties with help of alleged madam: sources
The crypto bros at the center of a twisted kidnapping case allegedly hosted wild sex parties with the help of an apparent madam at the posh New York City townhouse where they are accused of torturing an Italian Bitcoin millionaire, sources told The Post. The so-called madam, who has not been named publicly, is suspected of recruiting girls from a popular SoHo boutique to party with William Duplessie, 32, and John Woeltz, 37, at the ritzy Prince Street pad, according to the sources. Footage published by TMZ Thursday apparently showed the recruits inside the lavish digs with the alleged victim, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, at some point during his three weeks allegedly being held hostage. Advertisement 5 Footage published by TMZ apparently showed the alleged victim, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, with the women sources say were recruited for sex parties. via TMZ On occasion, Carturan — a wealthy trader worth some $30 million — was allegedly made to have sex with the women, the sources said. Clips and images obtained by the outlet reportedly showed a shirtless Carturan being led on a leash by a blonde woman wearing a tanktop and black pants. Advertisement Another video showed Carturan laying on a couch while a man sat nearby with what appeared to be a knife on his lap. Carturan, 28, was allegedly lured to the Big Apple with the promise of that he'd be able to recoup Bitcoin the sick pair had allegedly coerced from him by threatening to kill his family, Manhattan prosecutors have said. 5 Clips and images obtained by the outlet reportedly showed a shirtless Carturan with a naked woman. via TMZ 5 Other clips showed Carturan lying on a couch while another man sat nearby with what appeared to be a knife on his lap. via TMZ Advertisement He was picked up from the airport on May 6 and brought to the SoHo house of horrors by a since-suspended NYPD detective who was working security on the side, sources previously said. Carturan wasn't tied up until May 11, according to sources — which is when the depraved duo allegedly began torturing him for his Bitcoin password. He was severely beaten, shocked with electrical wires, forced to smoke from a crack pipe and at one point dangled him from a staircase five stories high, authorities said. The sick saga only came to light after the Italian national managed to escape on May 23, bloodied and barefoot, when he finally agreed to hand over his computer password as a ruse, cops said. Advertisement He fled the home when his captors went to retrieve the device. Woeltz was arrested that same day in his bathrobe outside the luxury rental, while Duplessie surrendered the following week after partying it up in the Hamptons from Memorial Day weekend. 5 John Woeltz, 37, was arrested in his bathrobe outside the luxury rental after the alleged victim escaped. Michael Nagle 5 William Duplessie, 32, surrendered after partying it up in the Hamptons from Memorial Day weekend. Steven Hirsch A subsequent search of the townhouse turned up cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition and polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed to his head, prosecutors said It wasn't immediately clear if cops were investigating the newly surfaced videos as part of the ongoing case. The Post reached out to the NYPD and Manhattan DA's office but didn't hear back immediately. Advertisement The two accused kidnappers remain in custody and are due back in court later this month. Duplessie's attorney declined to comment Thursday, while Woeltz's lawyer didn't immediately return a request.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
AOC Scrambles New York City Mayoral Race With Endorsement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made her endorsement in New York City's mayoral race as more progressive Democrats in the city work to consolidate support against front-running former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Why It Matters Ocasio-Cortez remains popular with younger, more progressive voters in New York City, so her support could convince some of those voters to head to the polls for the June 24 primary. Whoever prevails in the primary would become the favorite to win in November, as the city remains a Democratic stronghold. What To Know The progressive congresswoman announced in The New York Times that she is ranking Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who has polled second behind Cuomo and emerged as a favorite among many left-leaning voters, first in the Democratic primary. New York City uses ranked choice voting in their local elections. She said she will be ranking New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams second, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander third, former Comptroller Scott Stringer fourth and state Senator Zellnor Myrie fifth in her endorsement, the Times reported. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York speaks during a rally in Denver on March 21, 2025. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York speaks during a rally in Denver on March 21, 2025. JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images "Assemblymember Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack," Ocasio-Cortez told the newspaper. "In the final stretch of the race, we need to get very real about that." Newsweek reached out to the Mamdani and Cuomo campaigns, as well as Ocasio-Cortez's office, for comment via email. Cuomo has established a polling lead over other candidates and is viewed as the leader with less than a month until the primary, as progressives seek to rally behind other candidates to prevent him from becoming the party's nominee because of his more moderate policy positions. A recent Emerson College poll found Cuomo and Mamdani as the top two Democratic candidates. On the first round of voting, 35 percent of respondents said they'd vote for Cuomo, while 23 percent would back Mamdani. By the final round, however, Cuomo had support from 54 percent of respondents, while Mamdani had 46 percent. The poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters from May 23-26 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 after a report from Attorney General Letitia James' office alleged that he sexually harassed multiple female employees and created a toxic working environment, allegations Cuomo has denied. In May, he accused the Trump administration of "election interference" after The New York Times reported it launched a criminal investigation into whether Cuomo lied to Congress about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mamdani has engaged more progressive voters with a more left-leaning platform, emphasizing issues like a rent freeze to deal with rising rent and housing in the city and the establishment of a network of city-owned grocery stores intended to combat rising grocery costs for New Yorkers. Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement comes just one day after the Democratic candidates faced off in their first debate, during which each sought to portray themselves as the strongest to lead the city of more than 8 million people. "I am Donald Trump's worst nightmare, as a progressive Muslim immigrant who actually fights for the things that I believe in and the difference between myself and Andrew Cuomo," Mamdani said during the debate. What People Are Saying New York City mayoral candidate and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, in a post on X, formerly Twitter: "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a once-in-a-generation leader who has led the fight for working people in Congress. In 2018, she shocked the world and transformed our politics. On June 24, with @AOC's support and this movement behind us, we will do the same." Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told The New York Times: "Even if the entire left coalesced around any one candidate, an ideological coalition is still insufficient for us to win. We have to have a true working-class coalition." What Happens Next The New York City mayoral primary is set for Tuesday June 24. The winner will face off against a Republican, as well as Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking reelection as an independent, in November.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
As lawmakers tried to name an official steak, Texas students learned how to find the best beef
LUBBOCK — Steaks are serious business in Texas. If you need proof of that, just count the meat judging trophies at Texas Tech University. 'Texans love to compete, it doesn't matter what it is,' said Mark Miller, a professor of meat science at Texas Tech. 'It's no different when you get into the agricultural world and meat judging.' It's right up there with football, Miller said. Nearly 400 miles from Lubbock, there was a different sort of meat competition at the Texas Capitol this year. State Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, sought to designate the tomahawk ribeye as the official steak of Texas. He did this after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on the Senate to rename the New York strip steak to the Texas strip and designate it as the state's official steak. The success of the beef industry has energized meat judging in the state over the decades. Along with Texas Tech, Texas A&M, West Texas A&M, and Clarendon College are just a few Texas schools with accomplished meat judging teams and full trophy cases. While lawmakers didn't designate an official steak, teams around Texas are preparing for the next season of competition. And in Texas, where beef is considered king, meat judging has become just as big of a point of pride. Lawmakers had fun with the debate. Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican, had a cookout at the Capitol. Patrick posted a photo of the 'first ever' Texas Strip with 'Gulf of America' shrimp, inspired by President Donald Trump's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. On the House floor, King ribbed his colleagues in the upper chamber, saying they were trying to do 'Senate things' with an inferior cut of meat. Neither Mexico nor other international organizations recognize the Gulf name change. Similarly, New Yorkers did not take the rebrand attempt lightly. One 'power publicist' threatened to file a $1 million lawsuit. Some Texans left public comments voicing their annoyance with the legislation, but King contended there was a bigger meaning — to honor the generations of Texans who built up the cattle industry that adds $15.5 billion to the economy. Beef production has always been central to Texas life, he said. Part of the beef industry is the need for quality control, which has evolved into the highly competitive sport of college meat judging. Students who are trained to evaluate the best cuts of meat — lamb, pork, and of course, beef. The students rank the meat by several factors, including the fat thickness and how lean it is. They examine the marbling of the cut, its size and weight. 'The competition level between Texas universities is at the highest level,' Miller said. 'There's a lot of priority put on being highly successful in meat judging.' Since Texas Tech University won its first national championship for meat judging in 1989, teams from the school have won 15 national championships. The school's meat laboratory has several rooms dedicated to different purposes. This includes cooler rooms to store the meat, and one to hang meat while it ages. Students can use an X-ray machine in another room to examine the composition of muscles and other details. The meat doesn't go to waste. Raider Red Meats, which began in 2008, is a student-run store that sells all the meat that is prepared, cut, and packaged in-house. It sells a variety of products, including steaks, green chile and cheese sausage, thick-cut bacon, and chunks of fat for beef tallow. Blake Foraker, a coach for the meat judging team, said the storefront is used to provide scholarships to students involved in the Meat Science program. 'This helps to offset some of those costs so that students can be afforded these opportunities,' said Foraker, an assistant professor at Texas Tech. 'Whether it's on the judging team, working in the meat lab, or pursuing meat science education in general.' Raider Red Meats provided the steaks for Burrows' function in March, where members from both chambers were invited to taste the differences between the strip and the tomahawk ribeye. Zach Buckley, production manager at Raider Red Meats, said they cut the steaks fresh that day and sent them to the Capitol. According to Buckley, Raider Red Meats is one of the few stores in the area that cuts a full tomahawk. Buckley likes strips, but said he prefers the tomahawk. He admits it's partially because of the presentation. 'Part of it is pride: you have a full rib and then a thick steak,' Buckley said. 'Then, if you do it right, you can get that bone and go caveman-style, eat right off the bone.' The team is starting their slow season since classes are out, but is expecting steady business this summer. 'We went from having a little shop to a business that ships to all 50 states,' said Abigail Sleep, one of the students working at the shop. 'We're the only college that's inspected by the USDA. We want to do this to the best of our ability.' While Texas lawmakers did not settle their debate, meat judging at Texas Tech and other state universities is helping settle arguments about which cuts of steak are the best Texas has to offer. Texas Tech's team will host their annual BBQ and Ribeye Championship on Aug. 15 and 16. Disclosure: Texas Tech University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
