Herndon Man Accused In Overdose Death Dies At Alexandria Jail

ALEXANDRIA, VA — An inmate at the Alexandria jail who was charged in an overdose death died after a medical emergency Wednesday, according to the Alexandria Sheriff's Office.

Moaf had been charged with distributing the schedule I drug Metonitazene, resulting in the serious bodily injury or death of another, according to federal court documents. The charge stems from the overdose death of an Alexandria woman on Sept. 24 or 25, 2021.

Around 8:10 a.m. Wednesday, Anthony Moaf, 25, of Herndon, was found suffering an apparent medical emergency alone in a cell in the jail's booking area. According to the sheriff's office, sheriff's deputies provided medical aid and called for medical help. The Alexandria Fire Department responded, but Moaf died around 8:44 a.m., the sheriff's office said.

Moaf had been booked in the Alexandria jail Monday and made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday. The jail regularly houses federal inmates as part of an agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service.

In the September 2021 fatal overdose of the Alexandria woman, police found five blue round pills marked with "M-30," according to an affidavit. A chemical analysis confirmed the "M-30" pills contained Metonitazene, an opioid believed to be more potent than morphine. According to the affidavit, Moaf admitted to a Fairfax County detective to dealing drugs to the woman on the night of her death.

The case against Moaf was dismissed in federal court Wednesday after his death. Alexandria Police are conducting the in-custody death investigation, and the sheriff's office will conduct a review to ensure all its procedures were followed.

Moaf had also been in contact with law enforcement during a nearly 10-hour barricade in Herndon during January 2018. Fairfax County Police said at the time Moaf had threatened to shoot and kill family members and threatened to shoot at responding officers. Two family members escaped the home uninjured.