FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
OCTOBER 1, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TWO FORMER BOONSBORO RESIDENTS INDICTED FOR TRAFFICKING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Defendants Face a Minimum of 20 Years in Prison for Alleged Trafficking of Methadone Resulting in Death of a Juvenile
Baltimore, Maryland - A grand jury indicted Robert Carroll Eichelberger, age 36, of Hagerstown and Kathleen Ann Harris, age 38, of Olney, Maryland, on drug trafficking charges arising from the distribution of methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone in Western Maryland to high school students, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. The indictment was returned on September 25, 2007 and unsealed upon the arrests of the defendants. Both defendants had detention hearings today in federal court.
According to the four-count indictment, Eichelberger and Harris conspired to distribute methadone; oxycodone, also known as OxyContin and Percocet; and hydrocodone, also known as Lorcet and Vicodin, from January 2007 to the present. Evidence summarized in the detention hearings today showed that defendants distributed to high school students in Boonsboro in Washington County. The distribution of methadone on July 25, 2007, for which both defendants are charged, is alleged to have resulted in the death of a juvenile in Boonsboro. According to the government, the methadone was consumed with alcohol, which can be fatal even when only a small quantity of methadone is involved. Under federal law, a 20 year minimum sentence applies when death results from the distribution of controlled substances such as methadone and oxycodone.
Eichelberger is further charged with one count of distributing oxycodone (Percocet) on September 13 and one count of distributing methadone on September 14, 2007.
Both defendants face a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and maximum sentence of life in prison for the conspiracy count and for distribution of methadone resulting in death. Eichelberger also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of two additional counts of drug distribution.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Maryland State Police, the Washington County Narcotics Task Force and Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore and his office for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Robert Harding, who is prosecuting the case.