[Archived] Anthony Terry Convicted of Distributing More Than A Kilogram of Heroin and Synthetic Opioids in Alexandria

For Immediate Release: May 2, 2018

On May 1, 2018, an Alexandria jury convicted Anthony Terry, a 59-year-old resident of Dumfries, Virginia, of one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin-felony; one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, second offense-felony; one count of conspiracy to distribute furanyl fentanyl, second offense-felony; one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, second offense-felony; and one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it, second offense-felony.

On May 2, 2018, the jury recommended that Terry serve 86 years in prison and pay a $225,000 fine. The case was tried over three days before the Honorable Lisa B. Kemler. Terry will be formally sentenced on July 19, 2018. Terry remains in the custody of the Sheriff at the Alexandria Detention Center.

The evidence adduced at trial showed that Terry was a major source of supply for a complex drug trafficking organization that sold heroin and furanyl fentanyl in the City of Alexandria and elsewhere in Northern Virginia. Terry was responsible for the distribution of more than a kilogram of opioids in Alexandria alone between March of 2016 and March of 2017. A kilogram of heroin can be broken down to at least 10,000 individual doses and carries a current estimated street value of $150,000. Terry’s sub-distributors repackaged his heroin and sold it to persons suffering from opioid addiction.

Evidence also established that Terry tested the potency of his heroin and fentanyl on at least two of his buyers, gauging its efficacy by the buyers’ physical reaction to the powerful narcotics.

Terry’s criminal record contained prior convictions for distributing narcotics and for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.

Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter said: "The opioid crisis is a clear and present danger to communities across the country, and Alexandria is not immune. This case, in which a high-level, recidivist heroin and fentanyl dealer was held accountable for the human misery he has produced, is illustrative of a simple fact: the citizens of our City are aware of the opioid problem and are outraged by the actions of these complex drug organizations.”

“I note that by selling over 10,000 individual doses of heroin and fentanyl, this defendant, in effect, sold at least 10,000 potential overdose deaths to Virginia residents. His arrest saved countless lives.”

“Drug trafficking organizations should heed the message sent by this jury: do not sell heroin or fentanyl in Alexandria. If you do, you will be held accountable for your actions.”

“I espouse a two-prong approach to the opioid crisis. With regards to addicted persons who use and perhaps sell small amounts of narcotics to support their habit, I emphasize treatment and rehabilitation. To this end, my office is currently working with other City agencies to establish a drug treatment court and I hope that we can jointly announce the initiation of such a program in the near future.”

“With regards to racketeers and high-level dealers who distribute large amounts of heroin, fentanyl, and other dangerous drugs in the City, my office will zealously seek significant criminal penalties in an effort to protect the community from predation.”

“This investigation is proof positive of the incredible results that occur when state and local law-enforcement agencies collaborate on investigations. I wish to commend the outstanding law enforcement officers who worked on this case. Given their dangerous job, and the potential for compromising confidential law enforcement methods, I cannot praise the numerous narcotics detectives how worked on this case by name. A more general recognition must suffice.”

“I specifically commend the Virginia State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations and the Alexandria Police Department’s Vice/Narcotics Unit,
which have worked tirelessly on an important investigation that continues to produce results.”

“I also thank Attorney General Herring who is a steadfast law enforcement partner to my office. As he has in any number of other cases, General Herring offered the services of his Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Unit, a cadre of sophisticated, experienced trial prosecutors, to assist on this matter.”

Attorney General Mark Herring said: “The opioid crisis is affecting communities all over the Commonwealth from Alexandria to Abingdon. To truly turn this problem around, we need a multifaceted approach that includes education, prevention, and treatment alongside smart, tough prosecutions for those who try to profit off addiction and flood our communities with dangerous and potentially deadly heroin and fentanyl. That’s why I created a team of prosecutors in every region of the state, working to address high-priority heroin trafficking cases alongside their local and federal colleagues.”

“It has been a real team effort to bring down this trafficking ring, with state and local investigators and prosecutors all working hand in hand to make Northern Virginia safer. That kind of cooperation, creativity, and commitment is going to be key to saving lives and turning the tide on the opioid crisis in the Commonwealth.”

Alexandria Police Chief Michael L. Brown said: “We are very pleased with the collaboration with our state partners and the Virginia Office of the Attorney General is this complex investigation. The cooperation and "teamwork" was unprecedented. We are very proud of how this investigation went and it demonstrates our collective commitment to stemming the opioid threat in our communities.”

"The results of this complex investigation demonstrate the invaluable importance of public safety partnerships when it comes to furthering Virginia's efforts to combat the heroin and opioid crisis plaguing so many of our communities," said Col. Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "Thanks to this dedicated collaboration of agencies, justice has been served, an organized and complex drug network that was responsible for trafficking thousands of dollars’ worth of heroin and cocaine in two states has been dismantled, and lives have, ultimately, been saved."

This case is part of a long-term investigation by the Alexandria Police Department, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations (Fairfax Field Office), the Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Alexandria. Additional information about this long-term investigation will be released once all related cases have been adjudicated in a court of law.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick O'Brien and Assistant Attorney General Marc J. Birnbaum. This case
was investigated by the Alexandria Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations (Fairfax Field Office). The Fairfax County Police Department’s Organized Crime, Narcotics, and Intelligence Bureau provided resources at trial.