United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(GREENBELT, Md. - U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Jeffrey Sean Nazari, 44, of Silver Spring, Maryland, today to 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing a controlled substance analogue, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nazari admitted that a victim died from using the acetyl fentanyl analogue that he distributed.

The sentence was announced by Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.       

According to his plea agreement, for about five years Nazari knew and periodically sold heroin and other drugs to the victim. On January 4, 2015, Nazari and the victim exchanged texts wherein Nazari agreed to provide the victim with drugs.  Nazari went to the victim’s residence and distributed acetyl fentanyl to the victim.  The next day, the victim was found dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the victim’s cause of death was acetyl fentanyl intoxication.

On January 6, 2015, another drug customer went to Nazari’s residence.  As the customer left the area, members of law enforcement stopped and searched the customer’s vehicle and recovered residue from the acetyl fentanyl analogue that Nazari had sold to the customer, as well as drug paraphernalia with acetyl fentanyl analogue and heroin residue. 

On January 7, 2015, a search warrant was executed at Nazari’s residence. When law enforcement entered, Nazari was in the basement bathroom, attempting to flush drugs down the toilet.  Law enforcement seized from the basement bathroom approximately 7.5 grams of acetyl fentanyl analogue, 10 grams of cocaine, and nine grams of testosterone. In addition, members of law enforcement seized two digital scales from the basement bedroom closet, and a loaded .380 caliber handgun from the basement bedroom nightstand.  Nazari had previous felony convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. 

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA, Montgomery County Police Department, and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Arun G. Rao and Nicolas A. Mitchell, who prosecuted the case.