Montgomery County Schoolteacher Sentenced to More Than a Decade in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland woman is headed to federal prison for more than 12 years in connection with a drug-trafficking transaction that left a victim dead.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Sarah Katherine Magid, 36, of Burtonsville, to 151 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Judge Xinis also ordered Magid to pay a restitution amount of $25,090, for costs associated with the victim’s burial.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division, and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).

According to court documents, in March 2024, Magid distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim.  During the investigation, law enforcement discovered text messages between Magid and the victim pertaining to distributing fentanyl. Specifically, a forensic analysis of the victim’s cell phone revealed a text conversation and subsequent meeting between Magid and the victim.

The messages uncovered a drug transaction involving pills that were pressed to appear like oxycodone hydrochloride pills, but they actually contained fentanyl.  After the meeting and transaction, the victim was found deceased. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia determined the victim died from fentanyl toxicity.

Additionally, in July 2024, a complainant reported to law enforcement that Magid, a Montgomery County first-grade schoolteacher, exited her classroom to sell drugs to people outside of the school.  Law enforcement subsequently identified text messages from Magid’s phone indicating that she dealt drugs during work hours.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA and MCPD for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright who prosecuted this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.

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