Gaithersburg Man Pleads Guilty In Drug Overdose Death

GREENBELT, MD — A Gaithersburg man recently pleaded guilty in federal court for distributing fentanyl connected to an overdose death that occurred in Montgomery County in 2017.

Leandro Acevedo Lozada, 33, admitted that from January through February 2017, he conspired to distribute acetyl fentanyl and cocaine.

Lozada told prosecutors he distributed the drugs to street dealers and drug users, including his co-defendant — Bradley Seabolt, 30, of Gaithersburg, who pleaded guilty last year and is awaiting sentencing.

Seabolt got drugs from Lozada, and then sold them to a person in Montgomery County. The person died as a result, prosecutors said.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the victim died from fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and cocaine intoxication.

In his plea agreement, Lozada admitted he didn't know the exact chemical compounds contained in the opioids he sold. He suspected the drugs were fentanyl because of their strength and appearance, he said.

"Because the opioids Lozada sold were so strong, he used powdered sugar to dilute them, in an effort to both expand its volume and his profit, and to make the drugs safer for his customers," a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Police executed a search warrant at homes used by Lozada in Damascus and Gaithersburg in February 2017 .

Officers recovered 147 grams of a substance that contained both acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl; about 23 grams of cocaine; a bag of powdered sugar used by Lozada as a cutting agent for his opioids; $4,452 in cash and a digital scale from the Damascus home.

A 45-caliber handgun belonging to Lozada was recovered at the Gaithersburg home. Since Lozada had a previous felony conviction, he was prohibited from legally possessing the gun, prosecutors said.

Lozada pleaded guilty on July 5 to: conspiracy to distribute fentanyl; possession of acetyl fentanyl and cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Lozada and the government have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Lozada will be sentenced to at least 10 years, but no more than 20 years, in prison.

He will be sentenced on October 12.

(Photo via Shutterstock)