Justin Larson, 30, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, is headed for a life behind bars after a federal jury found him guilty of distributing acetyl fentanyl that resulted in a fatal overdose. The verdict, handed down in Greenbelt, Maryland, also convicted Larson on charges of narcotics conspiracy, five counts of possession or attempted possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and one additional count of possession and distribution of a controlled substance. The jury deadlocked on a second count of distribution resulting in death, but the damage was done.
The conviction stems from a sprawling drug operation that ran from May 2014 through March 17, 2016, during which Larson conspired to push acetyl fentanyl and furanyl fentanyl—deadly synthetic opioid analogues—into the streets of Montgomery County. Prosecutors presented evidence that on May 9, 2014, Larson directly distributed acetyl fentanyl to an individual who died shortly after ingesting it. Toxicology reports and witness testimony painted a chilling picture of how the drug moved from Larson’s hands to the victim’s system.
Authorities wasted no time in emphasizing the severity of the crime. U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, along with top officials from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, Montgomery County Police, and the State’s Attorney’s Office, announced the conviction as a major win in the region’s battle against the opioid epidemic. Rosenstein praised the multi-agency task force that spent years building the case, calling Larson’s actions ‘a direct assault on the safety and well-being of our communities.’
Larson now faces a mandatory life sentence for the death resulting count alone. On top of that, he risks up to 30 years for the narcotics conspiracy and up to 20 years for each of the six remaining counts. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has set sentencing for April 26, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. Larson has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained without bond.
The trial, which stretched three grueling weeks, laid bare the mechanics of the underground synthetic drug trade—where unregulated, lab-made opioids are sold as cheap heroin substitutes with lethal consequences. Acetyl fentanyl, structurally similar to fentanyl but less studied, has been tied to dozens of overdoses across the Mid-Atlantic. Larson’s case marks one of the few federal prosecutions under the felony murder provision of drug-induced death statutes, signaling a harder line by prosecutors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly O’Connell Hayes and Erin Pulice led the prosecution, methodically dismantling the defense’s arguments with phone records, undercover buys, and forensic evidence. As the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities across Maryland, Larson’s conviction serves as both a warning and a precedent: selling these poisons comes with a price, and the feds are watching.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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