Evidence linked defendant’s drug dealing to overdose death of McLean teenager Emylee Lonczak
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Antowan Thorne, also known as “Smooth," 37, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today to 300 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mark R. Herring, Attorney General of Virginia; Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division; and Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr., Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Thorne was found guilty on Aug. 20, 2014 of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin following a bench trial before Judge Brinkema. According to court documents, Thorne was a DC-based heroin dealer that targeted young individuals from northern Virginia as customers. On Aug. 21, 2013, the defendant sold heroin to a group of individuals from Fairfax County, Virginia, including 16-year-old Emylee Lonczak. According to testimony at trial, Lonczak became unconscious immediately after ingesting a portion of the heroin sold by Thorne. Lonczak was found dead the following morning, and a toxicology report found a fatal level of morphine (as a result of heroin) in her system.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Fairfax County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. Ben’Ary and Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-165.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
