47°
John Thomas Hess, 33, of St. Inigoes, was sentenced to 85 years in prison, with 50 years of active incarceration, for the importation and distribution of fentanyl, St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced.
Hess led an extensive drug trafficking network, with investigators seizing over 1,700 fentanyl-laced pills.
Prosecutors made note that even two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, meaning the amount Hess possessed had the potential to endanger thousands of lives.
“The deadly impact of fentanyl continues to devastate families in St. Mary’s County, our state, and across our country,” Sterling said.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable and preventing this poison from destroying lives in our community.”
Law enforcement also recovered cocaine and cash during the investigation, further exposing the scale of Hess’s operation.
Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Lanham-Seabrook and receive free news updates.
