Final Member Of Heroin Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA – The last of seven defendants convicted of conspiring to distribute large amounts of heroin in and around the Winchester, Va. region, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg.

Christopher Haack, 29, of Winchester, Va., previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 100 grams but less than 400 grams of heroin and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing heroin. Today in District Court, Haack was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release.

“The issue of heroin abuse has risen to epidemic levels in parts of Virginia,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “We will continue to work to reverse this disturbing trend through rigorous law enforcement as well as education, prevention and treatment programs. If we are going to make progress in the fight against this deadly drug, we must work together and approach the problem with a comprehensive strategy.”

Previously convicted and sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy were: Raymond Thomas Conrad, 26, of Strasburg, Va., 120 months; William Russell Carroll, II, 27, of Winchester, Va., 30 months; Dana James Hardy, 27, of Fredericksburg, Va., 84 months; Jennifer Elizabeth Breeden, 26, of Winchester, Va., 84 months; Brian Gary Pelczynski, 29, of Winchester, Va., 44 months; and Charles Lynwood Kline, 26, of Winchester, Va., 120 months.

According to information presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Wolthuis, this conspiracy consisted of a group of people who were working together to bring heroin from Baltimore, Md. to the Winchester, Va. area both for use and re-distribution. While the group had no formal organization, the central player in the conspiracy was Raymond Conrad. Heroin was purchased on the streets of Baltimore for $90-$120 per gram and later sold on the streets of Winchester for $50 per 1/10 of a gram.

The investigation revealed that during the life of the conspiracy, April 2010 to June 2013, some two kilograms of heroin were re-distributed, representing roughly 20,000 dosage units of heroin being put on the streets in Winchester, and the surrounding areas.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Northwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force is comprised of nine participating jurisdictions, the counties of Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Warren, and Page, the cities and towns of Winchester, Front Royal, and Strasburg, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Donald Wolthuis prosecuted the case for the United States.