September 21st, 2018 by WCBC Radio

Antoine Jamel Henderson age 35, of Hagerstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl—as little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose.  In his plea agreement, Henderson admitted that he and others distributed at least 280 grams of fentanyl in the area of Washington County, Maryland—enough fentanyl to kill most of the residents of Washington County.  As part of his plea, Henderson admitted that the drug trafficking organization that he supervised sold fentanyl that resulted in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses, including the fatal overdoses of two Pennsylvania men.

 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; the Washington County Narcotics Task Force, led by Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore; and Washington County State’s Attorney Charles P. Strong, Jr.

 

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur stated, “Working together with our local, state, and federal partners, we will reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths in Maryland.  We’re particularly targeting those who sell fentanyl, the drug that is killing the most of our citizens.  Drug traffickers are on notice that dealing in fentanyl increases their odds of federal prosecution.”

 

According to his plea agreement, from at least 2017 through January 2018, Henderson conspired with others to distribute at least 280 grams of fentanyl in the area of Washington County, Maryland.  Henderson knew that the fentanyl that was distributed during the conspiracy resulted in both fatal and non-fatal overdoses, including the fatal overdoses of Marc Brumbaugh, age 27, and Nathan Bolden, age 31, both from Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. 

 

Between August and September 2017, investigators conducted at least six controlled purchases of either fentanyl or crack cocaine from Henderson or his co-defendant.  According to the plea agreement, the controlled purchases were supposed to be heroin, but lab results showed that the substances provided by Henderson and his co-defendant were in fact fentanyl, not heroin. 

 

On January 17, 2018, search warrants were executed at two locations and three vehicles involved in the Henderson Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO).  At Henderson’s stash house, located on Atlantic Drive in Hagerstown, agents recovered 80.22 grams of fentanyl.  The fentanyl was located in the bottom compartment of a Coca-Cola vending machine in the garage.  The agents also recovered 9 mm ammunition, a drug press, digital scales, drug packaging equipment, plastic bags containing fentanyl residue, cellular phones, and other drug paraphernalia.

 

At Henderson’s primary residence, located on Lantern Lane in Hagerstown, the agents recovered additional cellular phones, a currency counter, jewelry, and a garage opener that opened the garage at the stash house.  Search warrants were obtained for the 28 cellular phones that were recovered from the houses and cars, as well as for the DVD from the surveillance system located at the stash house.  Also on Henderson’s iPhone, agents found iPhone “notes” tracking law enforcement surveillance.

 

Henderson and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Henderson will be sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for January 10, 2019, at 3:00 p.m.

 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the DEA; the Washington County Narcotics Task Force, led by Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore; and Washington County State’s Attorney Charles P. Strong, Jr. for their work in the investigation.  U.S Attorney Hur thanked Franklin County (PA) District Attorney Matt Fogal, the Waynesboro (PA) Police Department, the Franklin County Drug Task Force, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, the Washington County Special Response Team, and the Maryland Natural Resources Police for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joan C. Mathias and Michael C. Hanlon, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.