Two Maryland residents have been indicted by a Charles County grand jury for their role in smuggling 5,000 fentanyl pills disguised as OxyContin from California to Maryland, to be sold and distributed illegally.
Fentanyl ( Photo: Harvard Health )
Quecealla Turner, 22, and Marvin Anthony Bussie, 20, were indicted with conspiracy to import a controlled dangerous substance
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and other related charges. The investigation began when Charles County Sheriff‘s Office in Maryland intercepted a parcel delivered from California containing 5,000 fentanyl pills set to be delivered to a single-family house in Waldorf in November 2022.
Through further investigation conducted by the Charles County Sheriff’s detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Section / U.S. Postal Inspection Task Force, along with members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Washington, D.C., Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Division, and the U.S. Marshals Office (USMS), the two suspects were identified as the ones allegedly involved in the shipping and receiving of the pills in the area outside the nation’s capital.
Turner was served her indictment, while Bussie was located and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force on April 4 in Largo. Additionally, Bussie had an open warrant through the DEA for attempting to transport 12,000 fentanyl pills out of an airport in Los Angeles, California, last year. On April 5, a judge ordered Bussie to be held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.
The Charles County Sheriff, Troy D. Berry, stated that “fentanyl is extremely dangerous in the hands of dealers who often disguise what it is
We are committed to dismantling the networks that traffic dangerous narcotics,” adding that the arrests were successful teamwork among local, state, and federal agencies. Similarly, Damon E. Wood, a postal inspector in charge of the Washington Division, stated that “whenever someone uses the U.S. Mail to send anything illegal or potentially dangerous, postal Inspectors will find them and bring them to justice.”
Johnny L. Hughes, the U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland, said that “Fentanyl is killing many of our young people. Unfortunately, those taking these pills do not realize the consequences. This case demonstrates the commitment and strength of multiple law enforcement agencies working together to arrest those responsible for these crimes.”
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office has committed to identifying and charging individuals involved in the illegal distribution of narcotics. “We must remain vigilant to protect our children and loved ones from such dangerous substances,” Berry said.
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