Woman sentenced in drug case that resulted in death of young man

MONTICELLO – A 51-year-old Middletown woman was sentenced Thursday to three years in state prison for her conviction on a charge of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. Cheryl Gangitano must also serve two years post release supervision.

According to Chief Assistant District Attorney Jim Farrell, Gangitano admitted to giving methadone to Scott Blessing on January 5, 2007 in the Village of Liberty after obtaining a prescription for the drug at a local pharmacy. New York law considers a person who gives a controlled substance to another person as a seller of the controlled substance even though no money exchanges hands.

Blessing, 26, of Middletown was later found dead on January 6, 2007 at Gangitano’s residence on Genung Street in the Town of Wallkill. The cause of death was determined to be acute mixed drug intoxication and indicated that he had a lethal amount of methadone in his system.

Farrell argued that Gangitano’s responsibility was significant given the fact that after she supplied him with the methadone and as he was suffering the effects of an overdose, Gangitano did nothing to assist him.

“She supplied Scott Blessing with the methadone that ultimately resulted in his death and she neither sought assistance nor called 911 when he was clearly in need of aid in her home,” Farrell said.

An investigation by the Town of Wallkill Police Department, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Sullivan County District Attorney’s office resulted in the successful arrest and prosecution of Gangitano.