State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that a St. Mary’s County jury convicted Damauriae Myzuan Jones, 26, of Lexington Park, Maryland, of distribution of fentanyl and distribution of a counterfeit narcotic.

The charges stem from a December 21, 2023, incident in which law enforcement responded to reports of an unresponsive woman. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim was deceased. A toxicology report confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s blood. The medical examiner concluded that the victim’s cause of death was fentanyl intoxication. Items recovered from the scene and tested by the Maryland State Police lab included a cut straw and pills appearing to be oxycodone that both tested positive for fentanyl.

An investigation revealed electronic payments and communications between the victim and Jones regarding a narcotics transaction. These findings further corroborated that Jones distributed the fentanyl to the victim on the night of her overdose death.

“Fentanyl is killing people in our community, and this case is yet another heartbreaking reminder,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “These deadly pills sold on the street are not prescribed by a doctor or regulated by the FDA. They are counterfeit drugs, ‘fakes’ that may look like prescription medications, such as oxycodone, but are laced with the deadly drug fentanyl.”

Jones remains held without bond pending sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Ridge, Chief of Narcotics, prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.

Members of the Vice Narcotics Unit within the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office successfully investigated this case.

The Honorable Donnell Turner presided over the case.