Alexandria man sentenced in fatal fentanyl trafficking conspiracy

Alexandria man Reza Hashemi, 34, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling fentanyl that lead to the death of an Alexandria woman.

Hashemi was convicted of distributing 400 grams of fentanyl in Northern Virginia. Hashemi was the suspect in one 2020 overdose of a 22-year-old man, identified as 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 Hashmi and informed him of the death, but he did not agree to speak with them,” a release from the Department of Justice said. “Instead, Hashemi continued to distribute fentanyl.”

While still under investigation for the death in Vienna, Hashemi distributed additional fentanyl in Alexandria and a woman was killed.

“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,” the release said. “J.F. was 26 years old at the time.”

According to the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Alexandria:

Mr. Hashemi became addicted to opioids after suffering trauma early in his life. He accepted responsibility early on in this case and continues to do so. Although we do not agree that the sentence imposed was necessary, Mr. Hashemi accepts the court’s decision and is determined to address his own addiction through the next 15 years and beyond. The government’s repeated insinuations in connection with his invocation of his right to counsel misrepresent the facts and betray an ignorance of every individual’s constitutional rights.