Heroin Laced With Xanax Earns Dealer Six Years in Prison

GERMANTOWN, MD — A Germantown heroin dealer who knowingly sold heroin laced with Xanax, which led to at least two deaths, was sentenced to six years in prison.

Jelani Omar Johnson, 34, of Germantown, was sentenced Tuesday to the prison term, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.

The sentence will be served consecutive to the 51 month sentence Johnson previously received for being a felon in possession of a gun, which was charged in a separate case.

According to a plea agreement, from June through August 2013, Johnson conspired with others to distribute heroin in the Germantown area. Johnson had others drive him to locations in Montgomery County, where he sold the heroin, charging $100 to $120 per bag.

Johnson traveled to Washington, D.C. and to Richmond, VA, to obtain the heroin, which he cut with Xanax and other substances to increase the quantity of drug.

According to documents filed in the case, at least two deaths occurred after individuals ingested heroin that Johnson had distributed. Statements made by Johnson suggest that he was aware that cutting agents he had added to the heroin were causing harm and he didn’t care, prosecutors said.

According to his plea agreement in the gun case, Johnson contacted a Montgomery County Police Department confidential source and discussed obtaining a gun from the source. Johnson admitted that on Oct. 1, 2013, he purchased a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from an undercover officer and the source, paying for the gun with cash and about one gram of heroin.

Johnson had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a gun.