UPDATE: Fields has been sentenced to ten years in prison.

Original story below…

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BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore drug dealer has admitted to dealing fentanyl and cocaine to a fatal overdose victim in Harford County.

Aaron Arthur Fields, a/k/a “Handz”, 33, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty on March 30, 2022, to distribution of controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of crack cocaine and cocaine.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; and the Harford County Drug Task Force, comprised of members including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Aberdeen Police Department, Bel Air Police Department, Havre de Grace Police Department and the Harford County States Attorney’s Office.

On November 4, 2018, deputies with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Joppa residence for a report of a fatal overdose. Emergency medical services personnel and deputies arrived and located two victims on the bedroom floor. One victim was found dead and the second victim was revived and transported to the hospital for treatment.

In another bedroom, officers located a line of white powder on a book with a piece of a red straw. The white powder was tested and determined to be a fentanyl and cocaine mixture. The medical examiner concluded that the first victim’s death was due to acute intoxication by fentanyl and cocaine.

As part of the investigation into the victim’s death, their cellphone was seized and searched. A search of the cellphone contents revealed that the victim had contacted an individual the night that the two individuals overdosed. The communications indicated that the victim had to meet with Fields to purchase drugs on the night of November 4, 2018. Fields admitted that he distributed controlled substances to the victim and that they subsequently died.

Additionally, during a traffic stop on April 10, 2019, investigators recovered three grams of heroin from a second individual investigators believed to have purchased from Fields. The second individual admitted that they purchased drugs from Fields and confirmed Fields’ identity after officers showed them a picture of Fields.

As stated in his plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Fields’ Baltimore residence where investigators recovered 126 grams of cocaine. Investigators also recovered 28 grams of crack cocaine, 48 grams of cocaine, and $1,911 in cash from Fields’ person during his arrest in Rosedale. Fields admitted that he possessed the crack cocaine and cocaine with intent to distribute it. Fields also admitted that he conspired with others to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.

Fields faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for distribution of controlled substances and for the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. U.S. District Judge Hollander has scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

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