Ex-NYC official Kamal Bherwani blames Mohegan Sun for son’s caught-on-video fentanyl death, demands NY reject casino bid

The son of a former City Hall official experienced a tragic overdose incident at Mohegan Sun

An unsettling video obtained by the Post reveals that the son of Kamal Bherwani lost consciousness after overdosing on fentanyl while playing blackjack at Mohegan Sun. Staff members at the casino were slow to react and provide the necessary help that could have saved his life.

Even as Ethan Bherwani lay motionless on the floor, casino pit bosses and dealers continued dealing cards at nearby tables, as shown in the video of the incident that took place on May 18, 2021.

Jerrard Santiago, who authorities say supplied the fentanyl-laced drugs to Ethan, was seen standing behind him when he collapsed at the blackjack table shortly before 2 a.m.

Shortly after Ethan collapsed, Santiago was seen leaving the area at 2:01 a.m. in the video.

It took several minutes for anyone to check on Ethan after he fell from his chair, with one player moving to a different table to continue playing blackjack while others were kept away by Mohegan employees.

Medics from the Mohegan Tribe’s reservation arrived at 2:11 a.m. and attempted to revive Ethan, but tragically, he was declared brain dead and passed away nine days later.

Ethan had a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol in his system, with fentanyl being identified as the likely cause of death by an addiction medicine specialist.

Kamal Bherwani expressed his belief that if medics had arrived sooner, his son would still be alive.

He criticized Mohegan’s handling of the situation and is advocating for justice for his son’s untimely death.

A negligence lawsuit was filed against Mohegan, although a tribal court dismissed it on a technicality. Bherwani plans to pursue further legal action.

Kamal Bherwani is dedicated to raising awareness about the fentanyl-overdose epidemic through his nonprofit organization and advocacy efforts.

Mohegan’s security advisor refuted claims of negligence, stating that safety measures are in place at the casino.

Efforts to address the opioid epidemic are ongoing, with naloxone kits being distributed statewide to combat overdoses.

The tragic incident involving Ethan Bherwani serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing drug-related issues and ensuring the safety of all individuals.