First defendant charged with heroin distribution resulting in death, in the Western District of Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Louisville man was charged by grand jury indictment today with intentionally distributing heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, to a person known as “G.A." whose death and serious bodily injury resulted from the use of such substance, announced United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr.
“This indictment arises out of the collaborative initiative announced last fall involving DEA, LMPD and the U.S. Attorney's Office," stated United States Attorney John Kuhn. “With the assistance of federal funding from the OCDETF program, DEA and LMPD are investigating overdose deaths together, with the aim of bringing federal charges which carry a mandatory 20-year sentence upon conviction, without the possibility of parole. This indictment is just the first in a series of prosecutions we hope will make a difference for our community. My Office is committed to attacking the heroin supply, ending the violence associated with its trafficking, and bringing some measure of justice to the victims and their families."
Logan Charles Silliman, age 30, was charged in a three count indictment with intentionally distributing heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance, to a person known as “G.A." whose death and serious bodily injury resulted from the use of such substance; possession and distribution of a 100 grams or more of a substance containing a mixture or substance containing heroin on January 6, 2017; and possession and distribution of a of a 100 grams or more of a substance containing a mixture or substance containing heroin on Feb. 14, 2017.
Silliman was previously charged, in a Criminal Complaint on Feb. 13, 2017 with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. According to an Affidavit attached to the complaint, in January of 2017, members of the DEA Louisville District Office and Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Major Case Narcotics unit received information that the defendant was actively selling heroin from a residence located on Gardiner Lane in Louisville. After securing a search warrant, a quantity of heroin, suspected marijuana, a digital scale, a large number of syringes, packaging material, cutting agent, several cellular phones and documents were recovered from the residence.
After being provided a Miranda Warning, Silliman allegedly admitted to trafficking in heroin, that he used between 1 and 1.5 grams of heroin per day, and that heroin was located in the bedroom/closet area of his residence. Silliman further stated, according to the Affidavit, the he sold heroin to several people and that he purchased approximately one ounce of heroin twice weekly for approximately $2,000.
Silliman’s initial appearance on the Criminal Complaint was held before Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin, in Louisville, on Feb. 14, 2017. He was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.
If convicted of the charges in the grand jury indictment, Silliman faces a mandatory 20 years in prison for Count 1, no less than five years in prison for Counts 2 and 3, four years of supervised release, and a fine of $11 million.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert B. Bonar, and is being investigated by the DEA Louisville Division and the LMPD.
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The charge of a person by Grand Jury Indictment is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The DEA and LMPD, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, formulated a strategy in response to the current heroin epidemic and created the Heroin Investigation Team (HIT) which investigates overdoses with the aim of developing federal cases charging heroin distribution causing death or serious injury. These charges are punished by a mandatory 20-year sentence. The HIT consists of Special Agents of the DEA and LMPD Major Case Narcotics Unit Detectives. The program was supported initially with federal funding for overtime for six law enforcement officers from LMPD who work on HIT. Each of the six law enforcement officers was deputized by DEA as a federal Task Force Officer (TFO).
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
