August 3rd, 2016 by WCBC Radio

U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Erica Lee Buffolino, age 25, of Hagerstown, Maryland late on August 2, 2016, to 71 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore; and Hagerstown Police Chief Victor V. Brito.

“This investigation and case represents the dangers of heroin use, possession, and distribution, not only in Metropolitan areas like Baltimore, but also in more rural areas like Hagerstown and Western Maryland” stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert.  “People need to be aware of the fact that heroin kills.  If you distribute heroin to someone and that person dies as a result of using the heroin, you are complicit in their death, it is as simple as that.  Given the fact that the heroin on the street today is much more potent than it was 10, or even 5 years ago, and that it can be “cut” with fentanyl or other unknown ingredients, heroin use is a death waiting to happen.”

According to Buffolino’s plea agreement, early on April 13, 2015 Buffolino met the victim, a 19-year old woman from Clear Spring, Maryland, at a residence in Hagerstown. Buffolino was a long-time heroin addict and the victim was a recovering heroin addict who had recently been released from jail. While at the residence, the victim asked Buffolino to give her heroin.  Buffolino initially refused, but sometime after 1:30 a.m., she agreed to share her “morning stash” of heroin with the victim, who injected the heroin and became high.