An Arlington fentanyl dealer whose pills allegedly caused a fatal overdose in one of his customers was sentenced to ten years in prison yesterday (Wednesday).
Shan Mehmood, 21, pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and use and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense.
He had originally also faced manslaughter charges following his arrest in July 2023.
Mehmood, who was 19 at the time of his arrest, “regularly purchased and sold fentanyl” between 2020 and 2023, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
He reportedly met a buyer through Instagram and sold him four fentanyl pills at a Falls Church mall on March 7, 2023. Later that day, police arrived at an apartment in the courthouse area and found the buyer unconscious and suffering from an overdose.
A partially burned fentanyl tablet was wrapped in foil next to him, and another fentanyl tablet was in his pocket. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead the next day.
“Mehmood learned of the victim’s death shortly afterward, but continued to distribute fentanyl tablets,” the press release said.
A search of Mehmood’s apartment revealed a bag containing 357 pills containing fentanyl, a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, gun accessories, 113 grams of marijuana, a digital scale and $3,846 in cash.
A full press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia can be found below.
An Arlington man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for dealing fentanyl and carrying a firearm during a drug offense.
According to court documents, Shan Mehmood, 21, regularly purchased and sold fentanyl from May 2020 through April 27, 2023. On March 7, 2023, a buyer contacted Mehmood via Instagram to purchase four fentanyl tablets. Mehmood met the buyer at a mall in Falls Church and sold him four fentanyl tablets at 1:15 p.m. At 6:45 p.m., police responded to a suspected overdose at an Arlington residence and found the buyer unconscious and in cardiac arrest. A piece of foil wrapped around a partially burned fentanyl tablet was next to him and another fentanyl tablet was in his pocket. The victim was taken to a hospital that same evening and pronounced dead the following day. An autopsy determined the cause of death was acute fentanyl poisoning.
Mehmood learned of the victim’s death shortly afterward, but continued to distribute fentanyl tablets.
On April 27, 2023, Arlington County Police executed a search warrant at Mehmood’s residence. Mehmood was in possession of a plastic bag containing 357 counterfeit blue M30 pills containing fentanyl with a net weight of 38.46 grams, two one-gallon bags containing four ounces of marijuana, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, 9mm ammunition, firearm accessories, a digital scale, and $3,846 in cash.
Mehmood pleaded guilty on February 28 to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and use and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David E. Geist, assistant special agent in charge of the Criminal and Cyber Division of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement following the sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
The Arlington County Police Department provided significant assistance in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James L. Trump and Catherine Rosenberg led the prosecution.
A copy of this press release can be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-11.
