Tag Archives: fentanyl

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.

Elkton Resident Receives 14 Year Prison sentence for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

MEDIA RELEASE
DATE: December 6, 2021

RE: Conviction of Duke Wayne Lambert

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Duke Wayne Lambert, 37, of Elkton, Maryland, for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

On February 3, 2021, detectives with the Harford County Narcotics Task Force responded to the scene of fatal overdose. During the course of the investigation, detectives recovered the victim’s phone and through analysis of the listed phone contacts, text conversations were observed between the decedent and numbers utilized by Lambert and a co-conspirator.

Later that same day, detectives with the Task Force utilized the victim’s phone to contact Lambert. In a series of text messages and using coded drug language, the detectives arranged to purchase a quantity of narcotics. The detectives then rented a room at the Red Roof Inn in Edgewood. The detectives texted the room number and told Lambert both the quantity and type of narcotics they wanted. After hearing a knock on the door to their hotel room, detectives opened the door and confronted Lambert, who was placed under arrest. A search incident to the arrest of Lambert revealed multiple glassine bags containing fentanyl. Lambert had a cell phone on his person which the detectives linked to the decedents phone.

On December 3, 2021, the Honorable Yolanda Curtin imposed a total sentence of 20 years suspend all but 14 years incarceration to be served at the Division of Corrections. The Defendant will be on five years of supervised probation when he is released.

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher J. Romano who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County 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. Lambert. Charges are still pending on Lambert’s co-conspirator.

Baltimore Woman Convicted of Firearm/Drug Trafficking Charge

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: October 22, 2021
RE: Conviction of Tangier Laquisha Sher Hitchens

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Tangier Laquisha Sher Hitchens, 28, of Baltimore, Maryland, for possession a firearm under sufficient circumstances to constitute a nexus to the drug trafficking crime.

On January 27, 2021, Deputies from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit were conducting surveillance in regard to an ongoing investigation involving Tangier Laquisha Sher Hitchens. During the course of surveillance, Deputies observed Ms. Hitchens driving a dark colored Acura TL. Knowing that there was an active Search and Seizure Warrant for Ms. Hitchens person, a stop of her vehicle was conducted. Ms. Hitchens was detained and a canine scan was conducted of the vehicle which resulted in a positive alert.

The vehicle was searched resulting in the recovery of a satchel located on the front driver’s seat. Located in the satchel was one clear plastic bag containing less than 10 grams of suspected marijuana, one blue glove containing a small amount of cocaine, one clear plastic bag containing a small amount of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, one Rock Island .38 caliber revolver loaded with four rounds, and one box of twenty-eight rounds of .32 caliber ammunition. Further search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of two digital scales and fifty-five small empty pink containers used for packaging controlled dangerous substances for distribution. A search of Tangier Lauquisha Sher Hitchens resulted in the recovery of one clear plastic bag containing forty-eight oxycodone pills and a partial tablet of Alprazolam.

On October 18, 2021, the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin imposed a total sentence of 20 years suspend all but 9 years of incarceration to be served at the Division of Corrections, the first 5 years of which are to be served without the possibility of parole. The Defendant will be on five 5 years of supervised of probation when she is released.

Mr. Peisinger thanked Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Jaskulski-Tripp who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit, Harford County Sheriff’s Office Canine Unit, specifically, K-9 Pemi and the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division for their detailed investigation which resulted in the arrest and conviction of Tangier Laquisha Sher Hitchens.

Edgewood Man Convicted of Distributing Heroin/Fentanyl Mix

MEDIA RELEASE

DATE: October 21, 2021
RE: Conviction of Daquan Brown

(Bel Air, Maryland) – Albert J. Peisinger, Jr., State’s Attorney for Harford County, has announced the conviction of Daquan Brown, 25, of Edgewood, Maryland, for distribution of a heroin-fentanyl mix, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and unlawful possession of a regulated firearm.

On July 8, 2020, Detectives assigned to the Harford County Narcotics Task Force conducted an investigation in regard to a fatal overdose. A number, listed as “Squirt,” was discovered on the victim’s phone and was believed to be a suspected narcotics dealer. A detective working in an undercover capacity, made contact with “Squirt” via text and arranged to purchase $200 of heroin. On July 9, 2020, detectives rented a room at the Red Roof Inn located at 2116 Emmorton Park Road in Edgewood and conducted surveillance.

Once the suspect arrived in a silver vehicle, detectives were able to identify him based upon distinctive clothing mentioned in the text messages. An undercover detective approached “Squirt” where the detective handed him $200. “Squirt” then advised the detective to walk over to his vehicle where he handed him a brown napkin that contained 23 capsules which were later tested and found to be a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Once this transaction took place, members of the Narcotics Task Force attempted to take the suspect into custody and he fled. During the foot pursuit, the suspect threw approximately 4.6 grams of cocaine. Once the suspect was taken into custody, he was positively identified as Daquan Brown. A resulting search of Mr. Brown’s silver vehicle revealed a loaded Star 9mm semi-automatic handgun under the driver seat, $647 in assorted currency and various other illicit narcotics. Further, it was discovered that Daquan Brown is prohibited from possessing a handgun due to a Baltimore County conviction.

On October 19, 2021, the Honorable Diane Adkins-Tobin imposed a total sentence of 40 years suspend all but 15 years incarceration to be served at the Division of Corrections, the first five (5) years of which are to be served without the possibility of parole. The Defendant will be on five (5) years of supervised probation when he is released.

“This sentence is a warning to all those who decide to sell heroin and fentanyl in our community,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger. “Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, will do everything we can to fight the illegal drug trade, including ensuring that drug dealers will spend a significant portion of their lives in jail.”

Mr. Peisinger thanked Deputy State’s Attorney MiaBeth Marosy who prosecuted this matter and commended the Harford County 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. Brown.