Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Jaron Johnson, a 23-year-old resident of Washington D.C., received a 60-month federal prison sentence for selling fentanyl that resulted in the death of a U.S. Army private. The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court and was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, and Special Agent in Charge Jake Cameron from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Johnson admitted guilt on August 17, 2024, to charges of unlawful distribution of fentanyl. In addition to his prison term, he will serve three years under supervised release as ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper.
Court documents revealed that Johnson sold fentanyl to the soldier who died approximately 14 hours after ingestion. The cause of death was identified as a combination of fentanyl, dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant), and chlorpheniramine (an allergy medication), with an enlarged heart also contributing to the fatality. Toxicology reports indicated normal levels of dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine.
Investigators discovered text messages on the soldier's phone linking him to Johnson through discussions about purchasing "blues" and "30s," slang terms for fentanyl-laced pills. On May 23, 2022, Johnson sent an image showing light blue pills in his hand to the soldier, who passed away on May 26, 2022.
Johnson was apprehended at Baltimore airport on May 25, 2023, returning from California with approximately 33 pounds of suspected marijuana found in his luggage.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Washington Division alongside the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel with support from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Long and Will Hart from the District of Columbia's U.S. Attorney’s Office.
