Man accused of killing 2 by supplying them with heroin

Hernandez also gave out fatal overdoses in March and in July

Angel Hernandez (Passaic County Prosecutor) 

CLIFTON -- A 38-year-old Elmwood Park man has been arrested on charges that he caused two men to die by supplying them with heroin in two separate incidents in Clifton, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

Angel Hernandez was charged by the Passaic prosecutor and Clifton police with two counts of strict liability for drug induced-death, said Passaic Prosecutor Camelia Valdes.

Hernandez allegedly caused the heroin overdose deaths of Eric Somesia, 24, of Paterson, in March, and of Daniel Renois, 23, of Clifton, in July, according to the prosecutor.

The prosecutor's statement does not say whether Hernandez was a user of the heroin.

Hernandez is being held on a total of $300,000 bail, with no 10-percent option, and has a court appearance scheduled on Thursday, Valdes said.

Strict liability for a drug-induced death is a first-degree charge that imposes a maximum sentence of 20 years, 85 percent of which must be served before a defendant may be released on parole. Hernandez faces up to 40 years for the two counts.

Hernandez was charged following an investigation by the Clifton Police Department and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Unit, Valdes said.

Ben Horowitz may be reached at bhorowitz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @HorowitzBen. Find NJ.com on Facebook.