A suburban Long Island woman has been charged with running a massive fentanyl empire from her garage, shipping illicit substances to customers across the country. Carolyn Tolin, 46, pleaded guilty to operating "MamaKnowsBrown," a storefront on the dark web where buyers could purchase heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Tolin's operation was uncovered in March when law enforcement raided her Centereach home, recovering large quantities of drugs, computer equipment, cell phones, and packaging materials. According to prosecutors, Tolin operated a sophisticated online marketplace that allowed customers to buy and sell illicit substances using cryptocurrency. The site offered multiple shipping options and included cautionary overdose warning cards with each shipment.
The warning cards, which were intended for experienced users, urged customers to keep Narcan nearby, avoid using alone, and be aware of the potency of the drugs due to their long-term use. Despite these warnings, Tolin's operation was still linked to a series of overdose deaths, authorities said.
Tolin faces up to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, for her role in running the fentanyl ring. She has been in custody since her arrest and is scheduled to appear back in court in January.
The scale of Tolin's operation is staggering, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. "The scope of this defendant's operation is astounding," he said in a statement. The case highlights the growing threat of illicit opioid trafficking from suburban areas, where dealers like Tolin often operate under the radar.
Tolin's attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, her guilty plea and sentencing mark another major blow to law enforcement efforts aimed at curbing the nation's fentanyl epidemic.
Tolin's operation was uncovered in March when law enforcement raided her Centereach home, recovering large quantities of drugs, computer equipment, cell phones, and packaging materials. According to prosecutors, Tolin operated a sophisticated online marketplace that allowed customers to buy and sell illicit substances using cryptocurrency. The site offered multiple shipping options and included cautionary overdose warning cards with each shipment.
The warning cards, which were intended for experienced users, urged customers to keep Narcan nearby, avoid using alone, and be aware of the potency of the drugs due to their long-term use. Despite these warnings, Tolin's operation was still linked to a series of overdose deaths, authorities said.
Tolin faces up to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, for her role in running the fentanyl ring. She has been in custody since her arrest and is scheduled to appear back in court in January.
The scale of Tolin's operation is staggering, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney. "The scope of this defendant's operation is astounding," he said in a statement. The case highlights the growing threat of illicit opioid trafficking from suburban areas, where dealers like Tolin often operate under the radar.
Tolin's attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, her guilty plea and sentencing mark another major blow to law enforcement efforts aimed at curbing the nation's fentanyl epidemic.
. Like, she has an entire online marketplace on the dark web where people can buy all sorts of nasty stuff - heroin, cocaine... it's insane! And get this, she even sends out warning cards with these shipments, like "watch out, dude, these pills might kill you" 
. But apparently, her warnings didn't do much to help because there were still lots of overdoses linked to her operation. It's just so sad, I mean, who wants to die from a fentanyl overdose? 
. It just goes to show that there's still so much work to be done in terms of curbing this opioid epidemic... 
. I mean, them warning cards, they were tryna be helpful, but it sounds like they weren't enough to stop all the deaths... 15 yrs in prison ain't gonna bring back nobody 
. It's a reminder that we gotta keep fightin against this epidemic, and support each other through the tough times 
.
. I feel so sorry for the victims and their families, who are having to deal with this devastating loss 
.
, and it takes a toll on families & communities 
, but fentanyl's grip on our streets is suffocating 
.
. So, she ran an empire from her garage... I mean, what even is that? Like, how does one get into running a massive fentanyl operation in the first place? Was it just a random Tuesday when she decided to become a queenpin? Newsflash: you don't just start selling opioids out of your garage and expect to get away with it. She must have had connections or something.
. I hope that her guilty plea brings some closure to those who are grieving, and that it can serve as a wake-up call for all of us about the dangers of opioid trafficking 
.
. I mean, can you even imagine having that kind of control over people's lives, shipping them deadly substances across the country? 
. It's got to be tough on law enforcement, but at least we can take heart in cases like this where the perpetrator gets what's coming to them 
. And the fact that she was using cryptocurrency and shipping to customers all over the country? That's some next-level stuff 
. But we need to keep talking about this stuff, because it's clear that our opioid crisis isn't going away anytime soon. We need more resources, more support, and more awareness about the dangers of addiction and substance abuse 
.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... a suburban mom of 46 running a massive fentanyl empire from her garage? It's just mind-boggling. And what's even crazier is that she was selling these deadly substances on the dark web and even included warning cards with each shipment 
.
. This woman was making a killing off people's addiction and it's sickening. I mean, we all know the fentanyl epidemic is real, but it's one thing to see the stats in the news, it's another to see some suburban mom with a guilty plea staring you down.
. It's like, we need all the help we can get right now. 15 years in prison? That's not enough, if you ask me 
.
it's a wild number to wrap your head around... and the thing is, Tolin's operation wasn't even the biggest one out there 
. According to Europol, the total value of illicit fentanyl seized globally in 2022 was a whoppin' $14 BILLION 
.
. It's like, we're supposed to be the land of the free and home of the brave, right? But nope, our own neighborhoods can become breeding grounds for crime and addiction 
.
. We need all the help we can get to combat this issue. But let's just hope that Carolyn Tolin gets what she deserves and doesn't get too many brownie points in prison 
.
i mean, i know some people might say they're just a little overpriced, but like, have you seen the quality of their milk frothing skills? 
anyway, back to Tolin... what's up with these dark web marketplaces? it's like, we gotta protect ourselves from these crazy people who think they can just sell whatever they want online and get away with it. btw, has anyone tried that new ice cream shop on Main St? i heard their matcha ice cream is TO DIE FOR 