LEONARDTOWN, Md. – State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced that John Thomas Hess, 33, of St. Inigoes, Maryland, has been sentenced to 85 years in prison, with 50 years of active incarceration, for his role in the importation and distribution of large quantities of fentanyl throughout St. Mary’s County.
Hess led and organized a large-scale drug operation responsible for funneling fentanyl into the region. During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 1,700 pills containing fentanyl. Even small amounts of fentanyl are extremely potent, with just two milligrams capable of causing a lethal overdose. The sheer quantity of fentanyl in Hess’s possession had the potential to endanger thousands of lives, highlighting the catastrophic risk posed by his operation.
“The deadly impact of fentanyl continues to devastate families in St. Mary’s County, our state, and across our country,” said State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling. “I promised our community that we would aggressively prosecute cases involving opioids such as fentanyl and heroin. This sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable and preventing further harm from this dangerous substance.” Sterling also commended the hard work of law enforcement, whose efforts kept these deadly drugs from reaching local communities.
In addition to the fentanyl, investigators also seized significant amounts of cocaine and cash, underscoring the dangerous scale of Hess’s drug enterprise.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Ridge, Chief of the Narcotics Unit, successfully prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County. The investigation was led by Corporal James Warrick of the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division and Detective Stephen Bowlan of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Department.
The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis presided over the case, ensuring that Hess was held accountable for his actions.
This conviction and sentencing serve as a critical step in the ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic, sending a strong message to drug traffickers that such dangerous activity will not be tolerated in St. Mary’s County.
