Greenbelt,
Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Joshua Scott
Schellhase, age 31, of Leonardtown, Maryland today to six years in prison
followed by three years of supervised release for distribution of heroin. A
close friend of Schellhase died as a result of using the heroin distributed by
Schellhase.
The sentence was announced
by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug
Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and St. Mary’s County
Sheriff Tim Cameron.
According to his plea
agreement, during 2012 Schellhase was close friends with an individual with whom
Schellhase used heroin or other opiates on a daily basis. Schellhase and the
individual would provide heroin to each other as they were able to obtain
it.
On October 11, 2012, the
individual contacted Schellhase by text message and Schellhase agreed to give
the individual some heroin that Schellhase had recently purchased. During the
early evening, Schellhase drove to a residence in Calloway, Maryland. The
individual came out of the house and Schellhase gave the individual a small
amount of heroin and two cigarettes. The individual went back into the house,
went into the bathroom and ingested the heroin he had received from Schellhase.
About 15 minutes later, the individual’s girlfriend knocked on the bathroom
door, but received no response. She opened the door and discovered the
individual slumped over and non-responsive. Emergency medical personnel were
called and attempted to revive the individual, but the individual died.
The cause of death was
determined to be morphine intoxication. The victim died as a result of
ingesting the heroin provided by Schellhase.
United States Attorney Rod
J. Rosenstein praised the DEA and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office for their
work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Deborah A. Johnston and Leah J. Bressack, who prosecuted the case.
Inquiries should be directed
to Captain Daniel D. Alioto, Commander of Vice/Narcotics, at 301-475-4200
x1918.
