2 Overdose Deaths Lead To Edgewood Drug Dealer's Sentencing

EDGEWOOD, MD — A 49-year-old Edgewood man has pleaded guilty to drug possession that also triggered a violation of his probation stemming from a 2011 drug possession case.

Detectives linked Ronald Sullivan to a fatal overdose that happened Aug. 2, 2023. The investigation revealed that the night before the overdose, Sullivan exchanged messages with the person who overdosed that alluded to a drug purchase, according to court documents.

When Sullivan was arrested, officers found cocaine on him. During the investigation after his arrest, officials linked Sullivan to another person who died of an overdose stemming from drugs that person bought from him, court documents showed.

“Drug distribution in not a victimless crime. Too often our community members lose loved ones to the poison that is being peddled on our streets by individuals with no regard for human life or the laws by which we are required to live. Overdose cases can be incredibly challenging and I am proud of Assistant State’s Attorney Welch and his efforts to ensure that the families of these two victims received closure in their loss. We will continue to aggressively pursue the maximum charges allowable by law to ensure that a strong message is sent to anyone that is considering dealing drugs in our community," said State’s Attorney Alison M. Healey.

Sullivan has been sentenced to 20 years, suspend all but 15 years, with an additional five years for the violation of probation in the 2011 case for a total of 20 years in prison.