HEROIN HIGHWAY TO HELL: St. Mary’s County Drug Dealer Matthew Lusby Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in a Victim’s Death
GREENBELT, MD. – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Matthew Joseph Lusby, 46, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, on July 11, 2019, followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl to a junkie who died from the overdose of the dangerous drug.
Following a high-profile press conference where St. Mary’s States Attorney Richard Fritz promised to bring second-degree depraved heart murder charges against those drug dealers who dealt death to their customers via overdoses and the failed prosecutions of those dealers, the prosecution, in this case, was shifted to the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur.
“Federal, state, and local law enforcement are working together to arrest and prosecute those who peddle deadly fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. “Fentanyl is killing thousands of people each year in Maryland. We must do everything we can to reduce overdose deaths from this drug and from all opioids.”
According to Lusby’s plea agreement, on May 18, 2018, Matthew Joseph Lusby, of 25744 Gold Lane, Mechanicsville, Md., distributed fentanyl to Victim 1. Victim 1 was found unresponsive in his home on May 19, 2018, next to hypodermic needles and a small bag of powder that tested positive for fentanyl. Shortly thereafter, the Victim 1 was pronounced dead. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was fentanyl and morphine intoxication. Phone records showed that Victim 1 had a 10-minute phone conversation with Lusby the day before he died. Law enforcement then began investigating Lusby for distributing heroin and fentanyl in Southern Maryland.
As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 16, 2018, a confidential informant working at the direction of law enforcement, purchased heroin from Lusby in Lusby’s home. On September 6, 2018, a search warrant was executed at Lusby’s residence and law enforcement recovered 14 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl, 30.9 grams of pure fentanyl, drug packaging materials, four digital scales, several needles, and a credit card in Lusby’s name with heroin and fentanyl residue.
Charges of possession of heroin and drug distribution equipment were placed against Lusby on Sept. 6, 2018, and then dropped on Nov. 20, 2018, as indictments by a Grand Jury replaced the initial charges placed by St. Mary’s Detective Milton Pesante.
MECHANICS WANTED
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