United States Drug Enforcement Administration

GREENBELT, Md. - Jeffrey Sean Nazari, age 44, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to charges of distributing a controlled substance analogue, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nazari admitted that death resulted from the use of the acetyl fentanyl analogue that he distributed.

The guilty plea 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, Nazari knew and periodically sold heroin and other drugs to the victim for about five years. On January 4, 2015, Nazari and the victim communicated by text message and 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 and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the victim’s cause of death was acetyl fentanyl intoxication. The victim died as a result of ingesting the acetyl fentanyl analogue provided by Nazari. 

On January 6, 2016, 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. 

Nazari and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement Nazari will be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus has scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.  Nazari remains detained.

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 are prosecuting the case.