Linwood Douglas Thorne, Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Marijuana, Fentanyl, Washington 2022

A District of Columbia man has been convicted in a large-scale drug trafficking case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Linwood Douglas Thorne, 50, was found guilty of conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and a firearms charge.

The verdict, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, came after a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Thorne was convicted of trafficking over 40 kilograms of heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana, with law enforcement seizing five firearms and more than 44 kilograms of heroin in one of the largest seizures of heroin in D.C. history.

Thorne was found guilty of conspiracy and multiple drug trafficking charges after a lengthy investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. The task force began investigating Thorne in 2018, as a major heroin supplier, and executed simultaneous search warrants on Thorne’s Maryland business and D.C. residence in December 2018.

During the trial, the government presented over a dozen civilian and law enforcement witnesses, along with digital and business records establishing and corroborating the defendant’s guilt. Thorne faces up to life imprisonment and will be sentenced on July 8, 2022, by the Honorable Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell.

U.S. Attorney Graves praised the work of the investigation team, including the FBI, ATF, and the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended the assistance provided by joint law enforcement and prosecution partners, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division said the impact of the investigation will be far-reaching, as Thorne’s actions introduced a devastating amount of heroin laced with fentanyl onto the streets. ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson added that the individuals involved in the case are those who ATF works to keep communities safe from.

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