Alexandria Man Sentenced For Fatal Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

The following release is from the Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Virginia ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a young woman. According to court documents, from around July 2020 through June 2021, Reza Hashemi, 34, distributed over 400 grams of fentanyl in Northern Virginia. Hashemi was identified following the October 24, 2020, overdose death of a 22-year-old male, J.V., in Vienna. Hashemi admitted to distributing pressed counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to J.V. During the course of the investigation into J.V.’s death, law enforcement approached Hashemi and informed him of the death, but he did not agree to speak with them. Instead, Hashemi continued to distribute fentanyl. On May 28, 2021, in Alexandria, Hashemi distributed an approximate 1-gram quantity of powder fentanyl to J.F., which caused J.F.’s death by accidental fentanyl poisoning. J.F. was 26 years old at the time. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Call and Bibeane Metsch prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-1.