One victim died after receiving heroin from the defendant.
A Westminster man is going to federal prison for distribution of heroin which led to another person’s death. Alexander E. Agniadis, 28, was sentenced on Friday in US District Court in Baltimore to 54-months incarceration, followed by three-years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $6,743.41 in restitution to the victim’s family for the cost of funeral and final arrangements. .
The US Attorney’s Office for Maryland says, according his plea agreement, Agniadis agreed to provide a small amount of heroin to an individual on December 28th, 2014 in the Medinah Circle area of Westminster. Federal authorities say text messages show Agniadis was contacted by the victim to obtain the heroin.
After the transaction, the customer lost contact with his family. His phone shows that repeated calls and text messages went unanswered. The person was found dead on January 15th, 2015. The State Medical Examiner ruled the death was caused by heroin intoxication.
The US Attorney’s Office says that an investigation was begun, and undercover agents purchased heroin from Agniadis in early January, 2015. On January 14th, 2015, a search warrant was executed on Agniadis’ home, and law enforcement officers found 14 individually wrapped glassine bags containing heroin, and additional bags with heroin residue.
In addition to the US Attorney’s Office, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Carroll County Drug Task Force, which comprises the Maryland State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Westminster Police and the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, also helped in Agniadis’ prosecution. Assistant US Attorney Andrea L. Smith prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.