Hyattsville Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

HYATTSVILLE, MD — A heroin dealer who was caught while trying to climb out a window during a raid was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison, followed by 13 years of supervised release, prosecutors said.

A judge sentenced Henry Lionel Garvin, 36, of Hyattsville, for possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense.

According to his plea agreement, early on Nov. 22, 2013, a search warrant was executed at Garvin’s home, where officers outside saw Garvin use a handgun to break a window in the apartment and throw two handguns out the window. Once he saw the agents outside, Garvin retreated back into the apartment, where he was taken into custody.

During the raid, officers recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun and a loaded 9mm handgun, which Garvin had thrown from the window. From the apartment, agents seized: about 147 grams of heroin; a .223 caliber rifle with a loaded magazine; a loaded .380 pistol; .45 caliber ammunition; cellphones, scales, and other drug paraphernalia; and a currency counter and cash.

Garvin later admitted that the heroin and guns were his. He stated that he had obtained the guns in exchange for 10 grams of heroin. Garvin said he was able to buy 1.5 kilograms of heroin for $80 per gram.

Garvin had several previous felony drug convictions and was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.