Crime & Safety

2 Heroin Dealers Convicted, Linked To Bel Air Overdose Deaths: Sheriff

Federal charges were brought against two Baltimore area heroin dealers linked to overdoses by Harford County residents.

BEL AIR, MD — An investigation by the Harford County narcotics task force netted hundreds of grams of heroin and thousands of dollars in cash over the past two years, officials announced Monday. In addition, two men have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to overdose deaths tied to Bel Air in 2015 and 2016.

The investigation began in spring 2015 when the Harford County narcotics task force began looking into the distribution of large quantities of heroin being transported from northeast Baltimore into Harford and Baltimore counties, as well as additional Maryland counties and surrounding states.

Lamar Kaintuck aka “Chris,” 28, of Baltimore, was charged in connection with the death of an individual identified as "JR," a Bel Air resident who was found deceased from heroin in September 2015 at a house in North Beach, in Calvert County, according to Kaintuck's plea agreement. Authorities also linked Kaintuck's cell phone number to three victims of nonfatal overdoses in Harford County in February, September and October 2015, the agreement states.

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Kaintuck pleaded guilty in December to distribution of heroin resulting in death and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Ivan Brown aka "Mike," 33, of Nottingham, pleaded guilty to distributing at least 100 grams of heroin and possession of a firearm to further drug trafficking.

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After two undercover officers completed drug deals with Brown, they executed a search warrant at his home and found 48.5 grams of heroin in his bedroom and 600 grams of heroin in an animal carrier in a utility room, according to Brown's plea agreement.

Authorities found a total of $9,107 inside two shoes in his closet as well as $1,358 elsewhere in his room, according to the plea agreement, which said 10 cell phones were discovered in his Honda Accord and another cell phone along with $360 were located on his person.

Brown admitted to selling 1 gram of heroin divided into two 0.5-gram bags to individuals identified as "TK" and "JS" on July 7, 2016; officials said JS was found deceased in Bel Air on July 9, 2016.

Brown is set to be sentenced in May and faces a minimum of 20 years in prison, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

Image via Shutterstock.

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