Baltimore Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking Charges Related to a Fentanyl Death

Baltimore, Maryland – Khalil Shaheed, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; and Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees.

According to his guilty plea, after the investigation of a fatal overdose victim in Harford County, Maryland, investigators examined the victim’s cell phone activity and noted that the victim purchased heroin from a contact labeled “T” on at least seven occasions.  The last date the victim purchased heroin from “T” was on October 14, 2017, three days before the victim’s death.  In the last conversation, “T” directed the victim to meet them in a Baltimore, Maryland grocery store bathroom.

As result of an investigation into the overdose, investigators began to conduct physical surveillance on Shaheed.  On November 9, 2017, investigators watched Shaheed depart from his Baltimore, Maryland residence and travel to a gas station.  Before parking the vehicle, Shaheed circled the parking lot, stopped at a gas pump, and then parked directly in front of the gas station store.  Upon parking, Shaheed stood outside his vehicle, stood next to his car while appearing to look for someone.  Minutes later, Shaheed entered the gas station and went directly to the bathroom while a detective followed him.  As the detective entered the bathroom, Shaheed quickly exited the bathroom with another male subject.  Shaheed proceeded to exit the store without making any purchases.

Believing that a drug deal had just occurred, law enforcement obtained a court order to install a GPS device on Shaheed’s vehicle.

As stated in his plea agreement, on November 16, 2017, investigators executed a search warrant on Shaheed’s residence and vehicle. As a result of the search warrants, officers discovered a .9mm handgun, cocaine, and heroin packaged for distribution in his vehicle.  In his residence, officers found a .25 caliber handgun, $12,452.36 in cash, ammunition, and additional drugs.  In total, law enforcement seized approximately 82 grams of cocaine, 55 grams of heroin and 7 grams of fentanyl.  Additionally, officers seized Shaheed’s cell phone that indicated his phone number was the same number as the contact saved as “T” in the victim’s cell phone. 

On November 6, 2019, a federal grand jury indited Shaheed on charges related to the distribution of fentanyl to the deceased victim, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in November 2017, and possession of the firearms.  An arrest warrant was issued based on these charges.

On November 20, 2019, federal investigators located Shaheed at his last residence and observed activity indicative of drug trafficking activity in plain view.  Shaheed was arrested while officers executed a search warrant that resulted in the discovery of six bags of cocaine and a .25 caliber handgun.

Shaheed and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Shaheed will be sentenced to between eight years and twelve years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession of a firearm by a felon. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled the sentencing hearing for March 18, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Mr. Barron commended the DEA, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Oldham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Hann, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who are prosecuting this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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