Silver Spring, Maryland Man Faces Federal Charges for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of a Minor Victim

Greenbelt, Maryland – A felony criticism has been filed charging Mikiyas Maryie Kefyalew, a/okay/a “Mick”, age 24, of Silver Spring, Maryland, with distribution of fentanyl ensuing within the dying of a minor sufferer.  The felony criticism was unsealed upon his arrest on September 16, 2022.  The defendant had his preliminary look in U.S. District Court docket in Greenbelt on September 16, 2022 earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Ajmel A. Quereshi and was detained pending trial.

The felony criticism was introduced by United States Legal professional for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Particular Agent in Cost Jarod Neglect of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Division; and Chief T. N. Treschuk of the Rockville Metropolis Police Division.

Because of the dying of a Bethesda, Maryland minor sufferer in January 2022, legislation enforcement found a counterfeit capsule that gave the impression to be 30mg of oxycodone and alleged texts between the sufferer and Kefyalew.  The capsule was later examined by a forensic chemist and examined constructive for fentanyl.  Moreover, the Maryland Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner the sufferer’s explanation for dying to be a fentanyl overdose.  A forensic evaluation of the sufferer’s cellular phone revealed a number of alleged conversations between the sufferer and a contact saved as “Mick.” In the course of the conversations, the sufferer and Kefyalew mentioned assembly for a drug transaction.  

As said in courtroom paperwork, a witness suggested legislation enforcement the sufferer bought “percs” from a person referred to as “Mick”.  The witness additionally described the “percs” to be small blue tablets, which matched the capsule discovered on the time of the sufferer’s dying.

In August 2021, Kefyalew was issued a felony quotation for the possession of over 10 grams of marijuana.  In that case, legislation enforcement discovered a small blue capsule stamped with the writing “M 30” throughout the baggie of marijuana positioned in a car the place Kefyalew was seated on the time of his arrest.  The capsule was examined and was decided to be fentanyl, as nicely.

Additional, as said within the affidavit, in March 2022, legislation enforcement executed a search warrant on Kefyalew’s car.  Because of the search warrant, officers discovered two cell telephones, one in all which contained a number of messages indicative of drug trafficking, together with an October 2021 dialog through which a person advised Kefyalew that folks utilizing “percs” ought to get Narcan to forestall overdoses.

If convicted, Kefyalew faces a most sentence of life in federal jail for distribution of fentanyl leading to dying or critical bodily harm.  Precise sentences for federal crimes are sometimes lower than the utmost penalties.  A federal district courtroom decide will decide any sentence after bearing in mind the U.S. Sentencing Tips and different statutory elements. 

A felony criticism isn’t a discovering of guilt.  A person charged by felony criticism is presumed harmless until and till confirmed responsible at some later felony proceedings. 

United States Legal professional Erek L. Barron recommended the DEA, the Montgomery County Police Division, and the Rockville Police Division for his or her work within the investigation and thanked the Metropolitan Police Division, the Prince George’s County Police Division, and the Montgomery County State’s Legal professional’s Workplace for his or her help.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Legal professional Elizabeth Wright who’s prosecuting the federal case.

For extra data on the Maryland U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, its priorities, and sources out there to assist the neighborhood, please go to www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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