A Long Island man convicted in a deadly drug operation has been sentenced to more than five decades behind bars, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Russell Defreitas, 55, of Holbrook, was found guilty of operating as a major drug trafficker and on 91 additional charges tied to a cocaine and fentanyl distribution network in Suffolk County. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said the trafficking ring led to the overdose deaths of two individuals last year.

The fatal incident took place on May 9, 2023, when a man and a woman were found dead in a hotel room booked under Defreitas’ name, Fox news reports.

“When the female overdosed in the hotel room, Defreitas directed his associates not to call 911,” the DA’s office said in a statement. “Defreitas removed drugs and other evidence from the hotel room and then went to eat at a nearby Wendy’s.”

“Hours later, Defreitas allowed one of his associates to call 911. By that time, both the female and male had fatally overdosed in the hotel room.”

Authorities arrested Defreitas two days later and found a stash of drugs and other items during searches of his trailer and hotel room.

“During those searches, law enforcement recovered cocaine, fentanyl, two loaded firearms, cutting agents, drug packaging materials, scales used to weigh narcotics, and numerous hotel room key cards,” the statement explained.

“Additionally, at the time of his arrest, Defreitas was found to be in possession of bank cards in the names of two of his overdose victims.”

Defreitas represented himself in court during his trial. He was sentenced Tuesday to 53 years in prison.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney used the case to push for tougher laws against drug dealers in overdose deaths.

“The passage of Chelsey’s Law in New York State would give prosecutors additional tools to hold dealers accountable when their products cause death,” the DA said. “This defendant’s actions directly led to two overdose fatalities, yet our current laws don’t allow us to charge these preventable deaths as the homicides that they are.”

“Chelsey’s Law would ensure that those who profit from dealing deadly substances face consequences proportionate to the devastation they cause in our communities.”