North NJ Man Charged in Fatal Drug Overdose

Prosecutors say a northern New Jersey man caused a 19-year-old man's fatal overdose.

Bergen County prosecutors say Darius Ghahary of Upper Saddle River is charged with strict liability for a drug-induced death; manslaughter; maintaining a drug manufacturing facility and heroin distribution. He's also charged with hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence for allegedly telling his 19-year-old daughter to destroy evidence.

The 44-year-old Ghahary remains jailed on $750,000 cash bail, and it wasn't known Saturday if he's retained an attorney.

Ghahary is charged in the Feb. 22 death of 19-year-old Daniel Lajterman, who was found dead at his family's Ramsey home from an apparent heroin overdose.

Prosecutors say Lajterman bought various drugs from Ghahary, including a substance he thought was heroin but was instead a "poly-drug substance" Ghahary had mixed himself.

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