Baltimore Man Indicted for Causing Fentanyl Overdose Death

Drug possession is a common crime, but that doesn’t make it a minor infraction. Drug crimes, particularly those that involve trafficking, are punished harshly. That’s because drugs are not safe. A person can also face serious penalties when they sell drugs that lead to death.

This was the case for a 26-year-old man from Baltimore. The man was recently arrested and indicted by a federal jury for causing a fentanyl overdose death. He is also charged with possession with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm to carry out a drug trafficking crime. The U.S. District Court of Maryland in Baltimore filed the indictment.

The federal charges are in connection with a fatal overdose in Edgewood in October 2017. The man was identified as the dealer who sold the drugs that led to the death.

The man was arrested August 16 after he was stopped by police in Westminster. A Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputy saw a blue Acura driving west on Md. 140 with tinted windows. The driver was changing lanes erratically and driving between lanes. The deputy pulled over the vehicle and called for another deputy with a drug sniffing dog. The dog unit alerted to the presence of drugs.

Police searched the vehicle and four cell phones. On the man was a plastic bag containing 29 smaller bags. Inside each of the smaller bags was cocaine. The man was arrested and taken to the Carroll County Detention Center. He was released later that day after posting $7,000 bail.

His next court date is scheduled for January 7.

Understanding Fentanyl

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It is a highly addictive drug that is used to treat severe pain. It is also highly potent, as much as 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is most common in the eastern United States, particularly Florida, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maine.

Fentanyl is available via a prescription, but it is often illegally made, resulting in highly potent batches. It produces a heroin-like effect, which makes it widely abused. Sometimes it is even mixed with cocaine or heroin to create a state of euphoria for the user. As such, fentanyl overdoses are on the rise. Between 2012 and 2015, fentanyl deaths increased by 264%. From 2016 to 2017, fentanyl deaths increased by 47%. This resulted in 28,400 deaths in 2017. Most deaths are from illegally made fentanyl.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

While some drugs, like marijuana, are decriminalized in many jurisdictions, many are not. Possession or distribution of fentanyl and other addictive drugs is considered a serious crime. A person can face hefty fines and many years in prison.

Being arrested for a drug crime can be a scary situation. Let a Columbia drug crime lawyer at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. guide you through the process. He can help you obtain a favorable outcome. Schedule a free consultation today. Call our office at (410) 774-5987 or fill out the online form.

Resources:

baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll/news/crime/cc-federal-drug-arrests-20191127-ercmc25uzfedzay3cj7ihydomi-story.html

cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/fentanyl.html

https://www.marylandlawhelp.com/maryland-man-convicted-of-fentanyl-distribution/