May 24, 2016 2 min read

A Washington woman is in federal custody after she was indicted last week by a federal grand jury on a charge of trafficking heroin and fentanyl.

Quiote Guarino, 24, was indicted May 17 on a charge of possession with intent to distribute and distributing heroin and fentanyl which resulted in serious bodily injury to at least one person in February. The one-count indictment was unsealed Friday.

Earlier this year, U.S. Attorney David Hickton announced that federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents were working with local police to analyze data on overdoses after a spate of heroin overdoses in both Washington and Cambria counties. There were 15 overdoses reported over a period of several days in late January and early February in Washington County alone. Hickton also announced the creation of the FBI’s Fusion Center, where investigators have standardized the collection of evidence relating to heroin overdoses and trained police across the region on the overdose protocol.

During a February news conference, Hickton said some of the stamp bags that had been found were marked with a picture of a black boot, or the names Peace of Mind or Black Ops. Hickton said the heroin was risky because it was laced with fentanyl, and he said authorities were working on identifying suspects who sold the drug.

In a request for detention of Guarino signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen A. King, who is prosecuting the case, Guarino was labeled a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Guarino is the second local person to be indicted this year by a federal grand jury on drug charges. Ronald McMillian, 24, of Washington was charged in a four-count indictment in February with manufacturing and delivery of heroin in connection with two overdoses last August.

If convicted, Guarino faces a maximum sentence of 20 years to life in prison and a fine of as much as $1 million, or both.

Assisting in the investigation were special agents and task force officers from the DEA, Washington County Drug Task Force, office of the state attorney general, state police, county district attorney’s office and police from Canonsburg, Charleroi Regional, Donora and Monessen, as well as the Washington County sheriff’s office and adult probation.