MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: October 21, 2021
RE: Conviction of Brandon Winkler
(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Brandon Winkler, 20, of Abingdon, Maryland, for possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
On April 9, 2021, a Deputy from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office was on routine patrol in Edgewood when he observed multiple traffic violations by a vehicle operated by Brandon Winkler. Upon stopping the vehicle, the Deputy detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the car. The deputy, while speaking with Winkler at the driver’s side window, observed two large zip lock bags containing marijuana. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a variety of other illegal narcotics, approximately $1,773.00, a Tazer stun gun and a Bersa Piccola 95 .380 handgun. On that same day, members of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant at Winkler’s residence in Abingdon, whereupon detectives found and seized various illegal narcotics including oxycodone, which was packaged for street level distribution. Detectives additionally found more firearms, including a Ruger MK II pistol, the barrel of which was threaded, a silencer that appeared to fit this weapon, ammunition and $2,007.00 hidden under the mattress in the Defendant’s bedroom.
On October 19, 2021, the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin imposed a total sentence of 20 years suspend all but five (5) years which are to be served at the Division of Corrections without the possibility of parole. The Defendant will be on five (5) years of supervised probation when he is released.
Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Chris Romano who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County Sheriff’s Office along with the Narcotics Task Force and the Maryland State Police Forensic Science Division for their hard work and dedication in conducting the investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of Mr. Winkler.