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Baltimore County Man Convicted of Multiple Counts of Animal Cruelty and Cockfighting Related Charges

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: May 27, 2022
RE: Conviction of Jose Lopez-Villalba
(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Jose Lopez-Villalba, 42, for multiple counts of animal cruelty and possessing birds for cockfighting.

On May 10, 2021, Harford County Animal Control received a complaint about people engaging in cockfighting at 4366 Madonna Road in Street, Maryland. Upon arrival at that address, Officers inspected the 36-acre property and found approximately 100 chickens, most of which were roosters. Most of the roosters had been “dubbed,” which means their comb, wattles, and earlobes had been removed. This procedure is common with roosters involved in cockfighting because it prevents injury to these body parts while the roosters are fighting. Officers also found a fighting ring with a “sparring puppet” or fake stuffed rooster, which is used to train the roosters to fight each other.

Throughout the summer of 2021, Harford County Sheriff’s Office investigators conducted surveillance of the property and made additional visits to check on the wellbeing of the birds. On June 3, they found one rooster with a lacerated wing and damaged plumage on his chest. These injuries are consistent with cockfighting. Investigators also found medical supplies that could be used to treat injured birds.

During the surveillance, Jose Luis Lopez-Villalba was identified as one person who likely owned the roosters and used them for fighting. Multiple videos posted by Jose Lopez-Villalba on social media were discovered that showed him carrying roosters into the pit and forcing them to fight. The location in the videos was identified as the same cockfighting pit that investigators previously observed.

On October 3, 2021, investigators obtained a search and seizure warrant for 4366 Madonna Road, assisted by veterinarians and other staff from the Humane Society. Investigators discovered 209 fowl on the property of which 135 were roosters. Many of the roosters had old injuries or scars that were consistent with cockfighting. Also found during the search were “keep cages” in a barn which are solitary confinement devices for roosters that are used to make them more aggressive before a fight. 55 of the roosters had been “dubbed” and accompanying veterinarians determined that 39 of the chickens were underweight. Mr. Lopez-Villalba was on the property near the cockfighting area when the search warrant was executed. He was interviewed and admitted to owning the sparring puppet and dubbing the roosters. He denied that the roosters were used for fighting, but he admitted having them “touch noses” and making them charge at each other.

On May 24, 2022, Jose Lopez-Villalba pled guilty to 20 counts of animal cruelty and 20 counts of possessing a bird for cockfighting. The Honorable Maurice Baldwin sentenced him to 6 years to be served in the Division of Corrections. Upon release, Mr. Lopez-Villalba will be subject to three years of supervised probation and an additional 114 years of incarceration should he be found in violation of that probation.

“Animal cruelty of any kind is disturbing and atrocious behavior, but forcing innocent animals to fight for sport is particularly cruel and heartless,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr. “I am extremely
proud of the work that my office and our partners in law enforcement and the Humane Society did to hold this man accountable for these heinous crimes. This sentence should serve as a warning that this type of reprehensible behavior will not be tolerated at any level in this County.”

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Cristin Treaster who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Animal Control Unit personnel, the Department of Homeland Security as well as all of the volunteer veterinarians and staff from the Humane Society of the United States for their collective teamwork and dedication which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Jose Lopez-Villalba.

South Carolina Man Sentenced to 30 Years For First Degree Assault and Robbery

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: May 16, 2022
RE: Sentencing of Brian Summerson

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the sentencing of Brian Summerson, from Dillon, South Carolina for assault in the first degree and robbery.

On January 8, 2021, Harford County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to Mercy Hospital for the report of an assault that had occurred earlier in Belcamp. Detectives interviewed the victim who indicated that she met a man online and agreed to meet him in Harford County. During the course of their interaction, the suspect strangled the victim and forced her to send him money through Cash App. The victim later provided phone numbers to Detectives and positively identified Brian Summerson through a photo array as her attacker. Detectives further discovered that Mr. Summerson was arrested in Florida after this incident for a similar crime and a Federal warrant had been issued for an alleged kidnapping in Tennessee.

On May 13, 2022, Judge Mahoney sentenced Mr. Summerson to an aggregate 30 years of incarceration to be served at the Department of Corrections. Upon completion of those sentences, the defendant was additionally placed on five years of supervised probation.

“I am very pleased with this outcome,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr. “This violent individual deserved nothing less than the significant jail sentence he received for this horrible crime.” Mr. Peisinger further stated: “I certainly hope that the victim can find closure. As this prosecution and sentence shows, we will not waver in our commitment to eradicating brutal and senseless instances of violence such as this to ensure the safety of our communities.”

Mr. Peisinger thanked the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their response and investigation and Assistant State’s Attorneys Cyndi Adkins and Toi Mason for their advocacy that resulted in the conviction of Mr. Summerson.

Whiteford Man Convicted of Firearm Charges in Relation to Drug Trafficking

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: May 13, 2022
RE: Conviction of Nicholas Hunt

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Nicholas Hunt, 26, of Whiteford, Maryland, for possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession of a regulated firearm after having been convicted a disqualifying crime.

On August 29, 2018, the Warrant Apprehension Unit of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services were investigating the apprehension of a fugitive at 1313 Gold Medal Way in Edgewood Maryland. Upon arrival at that address, investigators encountered Nicholas Hunt, who led investigators into his apartment where the fugitive was staying. Upon entry, investigators discovered marijuana in plain view along with a disassembled firearm. At this point, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office was notified, and a search and seizure warrant was obtained.

Following the execution of the search and seizure warrant on Nicholas Hunt’s apartment, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force recovered approximately three ounces of cocaine and one and a quarter pounds of marijuana along with paraphernalia indicating that the illegal drugs were being weighed and packed for street level distribution. Also recovered was a 1911 Browning semi-automatic handgun near the drugs.

Subsequent to a grand jury indictment on the charges in 2018, the defendant fled the State and was eventually apprehended in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 3, 2021. On May 12, 2022, Nicholas Hunt pled guilty to possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possession of a regulated firearm after having been convicted a disqualifying crime. The Honorable Kevin J. Mahoney sentenced Mr. Hunt to an aggregate sentence of 35 years of incarceration, suspend all but 10 years to be served without the possibility of parole to the Department of Corrections. Upon completion of those sentences, the defendant was additionally placed on five years of supervised probation.

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Cristin Treaster who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division for their teamwork and dedication which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Nicholas Hunt.

32nd Memorial Service for Crime Victims and their Families

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: April 7, 2022
RE: 32nd Memorial Service for Crime Victims and their Families

This year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week will be observed April 24–30, 2022. A Crime Victim Memorial Service will be hosted by the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office to honor the lives of those lost to violent crimes in our region, which include Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore, Cecil, Harford and Howard Counties. The service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at Harford Community College Chesapeake Center followed by light refreshments. This event will be live streamed on our Facebook page. Please check our page for updates.

Harford County Man Sentenced in 2020 Shooting

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: March 31, 2022
RE: Benjamin Murdy Sentenced

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced that Benjamin Murdy, 45, of Street, Maryland, receive a sentence on March 30, 2022, of life suspend all but 48 years to serve at the Division of Corrections and five years of probation upon his release. The sentence follows Murdy’s August 20, 2021, conviction for five individual counts of attempted first degree murder and related charges, as well as animal cruelty.

On January 21, 2020, at approximately 6:52 p.m., Corporal Brian Wyzga, Senior Deputy Jason Flemmens, Deputy Nathan Schnitzlein and Deputy Nicholas Lastner from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of 4509 Oak Ridge Drive, in Street, Maryland for a report that Benjamin Murdy had shot the family dog and was in the house with the gun.

As the deputies moved towards the house, Mr. Murdy started shooting at them. The deputies took cover at various locations in the neighborhood, however, Mr. Murdy continued to fire shots at them for approximately 60 minutes. The deputies did not return fire. During the course of the encounter, Mr. Murdy shot Mr. Robert Schell, a neighbor across the street from the house as a well as a patrol vehicle and truck.

Mr. Murdy then finally surrendered to the deputies. A search of his house resulted in the recovery of an AR-15 and a .40 caliber handgun. Casings and ammunition were also recovered. There were three fired casings in the backyard and 195 fired casings in the driveway. During the search, the deputies also discovered Cora, the family dog, tied to the deck and shot multiple times.

During an interview, Mr. Murdy admitted shooting the dog because it would not stop barking. He further stated that he intended to kill the deputies as they approached the house.

The Honorable Kevin J. Mahoney sentenced Mr. Murdy to life suspend all but 40 years to serve with five years of probation for each of the five counts of attempted first degree murder and made each sentence concurrent to one another. The Court further added an additional 20 years suspending all but five years on a related count for a firearms offense. Mr. Murdy was sentenced to an additional three years to be served consecutively for animal cruelty bringing the total sentence to life suspend all but 48 years to serve at the Division of Corrections.

The State’s Attorney again thanked all responding Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies and emergency personnel for their response and investigation. Mr. Peisinger said, “Our law enforcement partners risk their lives every day to protect our community. Let this serve as a reminder that anyone who puts them in harms way will be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.” Mr. Peisinger further thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Charles Fitzpatrick for his advocacy that resulted in the conviction of Mr. Murdy.

Baltimore Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: March 30, 2022

RE: Murder Conviction

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced that on March 29, 2022, a Harford County jury found Sherron Garrett, from Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, and possession of a regulated firearm by a person with a felony conviction, following a multi-day trial before the Honorable Kevin J. Mahoney. Sentencing is set for June 9, 2022.

On September 29, 2019, Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 1931 Edgewater Drive for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located Deandre Sellers, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by deputies and emergency services personnel, Mr. Sellers succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Detectives responded to the scene and began an investigation. Witnesses at the scene revealed to investigators that Mr. Sellers was involved in a verbal altercation earlier that day which ended with a threat of violence against him. A further argument was reported at approximately 6:55 that evening just before three gunshots rang out.

Investigators located and collected three shell casings from the scene of the murder, as well as a cleaning rod to an SKS assault rifle. Seven days later, the SKS assault rifle itself was found by a concerned citizen and reported to law enforcement. Investigators were able to recover a fingerprint from tape around the gun and matched that fingerprint to Sheron Garrett. Further forensic testing by the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division confirmed this weapon fired the casings at the murder scene. Mr. Garrett denied having been in Harford County on September 29 or for months prior, but cell data analysis provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation demonstrated that he traveled from his home in Baltimore City to scene of the murder at the time of the shooting.

“The actions of Sheron Garrett were shocking, brutal and not only took a life, but victimized an entire neighborhood,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger, Jr. “It is my hope that this verdict brings a measure of justice to the family of the victim of this callous and senseless act. As this case shows, my Office, together with our Federal, State and Local law enforcement partners, will continue to use all available tools to solve crimes and hold violent offenders accountable.”

Mr. Peisinger further thanked the jurors who deliberated the case. He also praised the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as all other first responders for their efforts in rendering aid at the scene and for the extensive investigation that resulted in the conviction of Mr. Garrett. Additionally, he commended Assistant State’s Attorneys Jason Allen and Charles Fitzpatrick for their exceptional advocacy in this highly complex case that resulted in this guilty verdict.

Baltimore Man Convicted of Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: March 21, 2022

Conviction of Sterling Anton Melton
(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Sterling Anton Melton, 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

On February 25, 2020, Detectives from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office received information that a man was selling illegal narcotics from an apartment at the Stay Inn and Suites, located at 636 S. Philadelphia Boulevard in Aberdeen. Working with the Aberdeen Police Department, Detectives from both agencies conducted covert surveillance on the Stay Inn and Suites and observed what appeared to be illicit narcotics activity, specifically originating from room 117. Based upon this information, Detectives sought and obtained a search and seizure warrant.

On March 3, 2020, Detectives from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Aberdeen Police Department conducted further surveillance on room 117 and observed the suspected dealer, later identified as Sterling Anton Melton, leave the room and get into a waiting vehicle. That vehicle was then stopped and Mr. Melton was taken into custody. The subsequent search of room 117 resulted in the recovery of approximately seven grams for crack cocaine, as well as marijuana, and three loaded handguns. A search incident to the arrest of Sterling Melton resulted in the additional recovery of approximately 16 grams of crack cocaine from his person.

On March 21, 2022, the Honorable Paul W. Ishak imposed a total sentence of twenty (20) years suspending all but fourteen (14) years to be served at the Division of Correction. Upon release, Mr. Melton will be on three (3) years of supervised probation.

“This conviction serves as yet another reminder that my Office works closely with our law enforcement partners from across Harford County to pursue persons involved in the sale of dangerous drugs and hold them accountable,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger, Jr. “We will take whatever steps are necessary to remove illegal guns and narcotics from our communities and make our neighborhoods safe.”

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Jaskulski-Tripp who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Aberdeen Police Department for their teamwork and dedication to conducting the investigation which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Sterling Anton Melton.

South Carolina Man Convicted of First Degree assault and Robbery in Harford County

South Carolina Man Convicted of First Degree Assault and Robbery in Harford County

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: March 15, 2022
RE: Conviction of Brian Summerson

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Brian Summerson, from Dillon, South Carolina for assault in the first degree and robbery.

On January 8, 2021, Harford County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to Mercy Hospital for the report of anassault that had occurred earlier in Belcamp. Detectives interviewed the victim who indicated that she met a man online and agreed to meet him in Harford County. During the course of their interaction, the suspect strangled the victim and forced her to send him money through Cash App. The victim later provided phone numbers to Detectives and positively identified Brian Summerson through a photo array as her attacker. Detectives further discovered that Mr. Summerson was arrested in Florida after this incident for a similar crime and a Federal warrant had been issued for an alleged kidnapping in Tennessee.

Mr. Summerson was extradited to Harford County where he stood trial. Following a four-day bench trial in front of the Honorable Kevin J. Mahoney, Mr. Summerson was convicted of assault in the first degree and robbery. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 13, 2022 where he faces a maximum sentence of 40 years incarceration.

“This was a horrible crime that has forever changed the victim’s life and I hope this conviction provides some closure for her,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger, Jr. “As this case confirms, we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of justice in Harford County, no matter where the perpetrators are from or where they may go. There is no place other than prison for people who come into our community and commit violent crime.”

TWO HARFORD COUNTY COCAINE DEALERS CONVICTED AFTER FEDERAL TRIAL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN A DRUG DISTRIBUTION CONSPIRACY

U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Maryland
Erek L. Barron 36 South Charles Street 410-209-4800
United States Attorney4th Floor TTY/TDD: 410-962-4462
Baltimore, Maryland 21201 410-209-4885
Marcia A. Murphy FAX 410-962-3091
Public Affairs Specialist Marcia.Murphy@usdoj.gov
March 11, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact MARCIA MURPHY
www.justice.gov/usao/md at (410) 209-4854

TWO HARFORD COUNTY COCAINE DEALERS CONVICTED AFTER FEDERAL TRIAL FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN A DRUG DISTRIBUTION CONSPIRACY

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Che Jaron Durbin, age 43, of Aberdeen, Maryland and Terrell Darnell Walton, age 36, of Delaware, yesterday on federal charges related to their participation in a drug trafficking organization distributing cocaine and crack cocaine in Harford County, Maryland. Specifically, the jury convicted Durbin and Walton for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. The jury also found Durbin guilty of two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr.; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office; and the Harford County Drug Task Force, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, comprised of members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Aberdeen Police Department, the Bel Air Police Department, and the Havre de Grace Police Department.

According to evidence presented at the eight-day trial, in May 2019, members of the Harford County Drug Task Force were investigating Durbin, who was suspected of drug trafficking in the Harford County area. Durbin testified at trial that he had a previous federal drug trafficking conviction in Maryland, as well as a previous conviction in Harford County Circuit Court for drug trafficking.

Witnesses testified that on May 17, 2019, a U.S. Postal Inspector notified detectives that a suspicious package was en route to Durbin’s mother’s apartment in Aberdeen, Maryland. Detectives watched as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier delivered the parcel to Durbin, who took it into the apartment. A short time later, a woman, later identified as co-defendant Jameka Cara Thompson, left the apartment with the parcel and drove to her home. Law enforcement detained Thompson and obtained a search warrant for her vehicle. The parcel was found to contain one kilogram of compressed cocaine. Further investigation revealed that co-defendant Jack Anderson from Tucson, Arizona was the sender of the package.

On January 22, 2020, law enforcement learned from U.S. Postal Inspectors that Durbin sent a parcel from Havre de Grace, Maryland, addressed to Anderson in Tucson, Arizona. A search warrant was obtained for the parcel after a K9 gave a positive alert. The parcel contained $82,300 in cash inside a wireless headphones box.

In February 2020, as part of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted Durbin’s
communications, as well as those of Anderson, Walton, and other co-defendants to whom Durbin supplied cocaine and crack. The evidence at trial also showed that Walton obtained cocaine from Durbin, which Walton then sold to a network of individuals in Harford County. Intercepted communications between Durbin and Walton included discussions regarding the amounts of drugs and the price, often using coded language.

According to trial testimony, in May 2020, law enforcement surveilled Durbin meeting with Anderson at a Tucson, Arizona hotel. Soon after the meeting, Durbin picked Thompson up at the Tucson Airport and drove her back to his hotel room. Durbin flew back to Maryland the next day and Thompson ultimately obtained a bulk supply of cocaine from Anderson on Durbin’s behalf. Thompson drove cross-country from Arizona to Harford County, where she was arrested on May 12, 2020. Law enforcement searched her vehicle, seizing an additional 1.4 kilograms of cocaine. Durbin was also arrested. According to trial testimony, over the course of the conspiracy Thompson made at least eight similar trips on Durbin’s behalf, transporting almost 40 kilograms of cocaine to Maryland for Durbin to distribute.

Durbin and Walton each face a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Durbin also faces a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for each of two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has not scheduled sentencing dates for Durbin or Walton.

Co-defendant Jack Anderson IV, age 45, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to 126 months in federal prison in December 2021, after Anderson entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Co-defendants Jameka Cara Thompson, age 41, of Abingdon, Maryland; Garrick Devlon Jackson, age 39, of Havre de Grace, Maryland; and Michael Ronnell Wells, age 37, of Forest Hill, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, the DEA, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harford County Drug Task Force for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Jason X. Hamilton, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

Aberdeen Man Convicted of Possessing Handguns and Large Amounts of Fentanyl

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: March 10, 2022
RE: Conviction of Adrian Lamar Goodwin

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Adrian Lamar Goodwin, 36, of Aberdeen, Maryland, for possession of fentanyl in the amount of five grams or more and for possession of a regulated firearm after having been convicted a disqualifying crime.

In February 2020, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in Harford County, Maryland. Utilizing court ordered surveillance, investigators determined that a drug trafficking organization was transporting cocaine from Tucson, Arizona into Harford County for redistribution. Multiple co-conspirators were identified in this criminal enterprise including Adrian Lamar Goodwin. After numerous hours of surveillance, investigators were able to identify several residences utilized daily by the coconspirators, including a house located at 620 S. Freedom Lane in Havre de Grace, Maryland, where detectives observed numerous actions consistent with the drug trade. Over the course of the investigation, Adrian Lamar Goodwin was identified as one of only two people who had a key to this residence. Mr. Goodwin was observed at this house almost daily using a key to enter the location. Additionally, between April and May 2020, Mr. Goodwin was the only individual spending the night.

On May 12, 2020, a search and seizure warrant was executed at 620 S. Freedom Lane and Adrian Lamar Goodwin was inside one of the bedrooms. In that same bedroom, inside the dresser was a prescription pill bottle with no label containing 69 greenish pills with a weight of approximately 7.5 grams that were later determined by the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division to be fentanyl. These pills had been pressed to look like oxycodone. Also located within the residence in the other bedroom was a bag containing three handguns and ammunition.

On March 9, 2022, the Honorable Paul W. Ishak sentenced Adrian Lamar Goodwin to twenty years suspending all but fourteen years of which the first five are to be served without the possibility of parole for possession of Fentanyl in the amount of five grams or more and to five years without the possibility of parole for possession of a regulated firearm after having been convicted of a disqualifying crime to be served concurrently in the Division of Corrections.

“According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, a fatal dose of fentanyl is approximately two milligrams, making it one of the most dangerous narcotics illegally trafficked today,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr. “The actions of the Harford County Narcotics Task Force have saved many lives by taking off of the streets enough fentanyl to kill thousands of people and removing the drug dealer responsible from our community.”

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Jennifer Jaskulski-Tripp and Christopher J. Romano who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County Narcotics Task Force, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Aberdeen Police Department, the Havre de Grace Police Department, the Bel Air Police Department, the Cecil County Drug Task Force, the DEA, the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office and the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division for their teamwork and dedication which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Adrian Lamar Goodwin.