United States Drug Enforcement Administration

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Antowan Thorne, also known as “Smooth,” 37, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today to 300 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Washington Field Division; Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.

Thorne was found guilty on August 20, 2014 of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin following a bench trial before Judge Brinkema.  According to court documents, Thorne was a DC-based heroin dealer that targeted young individuals from northern Virginia as customers.  On August 21, 2013, the defendant sold heroin to a group of individuals from Fairfax County, Virginia, including 16-year-old Emylee Lonczak.  According to testimony at trial, Lonczak became unconscious immediately after ingesting a portion of the heroin sold by Thorne.  Lonczak was found dead the following morning, and a toxicology report found a fatal level of (as a result of heroin) in her system.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Fairfax County Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Ben’Ary and Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum prosecuted the case.