USA - A heroin overdose and the Len Bias law

[Ranke]

A week ago today a friend of swims died from a heroin overdose. He may have been drinking, or he may not have just misjudged due to the fact that the heroin he was using was stronger than he was used to. Unfortunately the day before a friend of swims had called him asking him to hook up him and his friends with some heroin (their dealers had all been arrested). Swim agreed and met the two of the three intended recipients of the heroin downtown. He proceeded to call his dealer and agreed on a place to meet. When the dealer arrived swim had to handle the transaction, as the dealer was wary of new customers or multiple people present during an exchange. He took the 120 dollars and walked half a block with the dealer. During this time he handed the dealer 120 dollars the the dealer handed him 8 balloons of heroin followed by a 9th after swim requested and extra for bringing him the business. The transaction finished he walked back handed over the 8 balloons and thanked the two for going through him as it had gotten him a free balloon.

As swim was getting a ride home from the two it was agreed that a stop should be made so that everyone could fix up a shot. Swim finished preparing and doing his before the other two. The strength reminded him that these two were not aware of the difference between the black tar that they had been buying from the Mexican dealers who operated in the residential parts of the city and the black tar sold downtown.
Before the two had the opportunity to use any of the heroin swim warned them of the difference in strength. The heeded swims warning and about half to a third of their syringes to determine the strength. Remarking at the substantial difference in strength they promised to be careful that evening.
Over the course of the drive swim repeated his warning a number of times.
He was worried that with the quantity they had bought and their reckless nature they would end up getting into trouble. Soon they arrived at swims house. As he left he thanked them and warned them once more to be careful and not to drink.

He thought nothing more of the entire affair until the next day at around 6:00pm when he received a call from the same friend who had called the day before. He was told that one of the two people he had met had overdosed the previous night and died. He also asked swim a strange question considering what had happened. He asked how many balloons swim had bought for the two. Swim told him 8, they then finished talking, swim expressed his condolences for his friend and then hung up.

Later that day swim called friend to request that he not mention swims name if he had to talk to any police. His friend then tearfully admitted that during a forceful questioning by police he had given swims named and as the police listened in he had called swim to inform him of the death and obtain the evidence needed by police to question swim. Swim broke down and began crying hysterically. He knew from a similar overdose case that had been widely reported that he was now in danger of being charged with third degree murder at the federal level due the the Len Bias law. The law states an individual who provides schedule 1 or 2 drugs that result in a fatal overdose can be charged with third degree murder.

A few days later was greeted by two members of law enforcement in bullet proof vests. Swim later learned that an additional 3-4 members of the vice unit had come in case swim made an attempt to flee. After an hour and a half or more of questioning and a phone conversation with the DA he agreed to do flip on his dealer and participate in a buy. In exchange the third degree murder charges would be dropped. Swim attempted to have the delivery charges dropped as well, the DA however refused. He was told however that he would likely get off with probation due to his clean record, his cooperation in the buy, and his heroin addiction at the time.

[NOTE]
Ever since swim began using psychoactive substances and occasionally selling them he swore he would never narc on someone. However this promise was made with the assumption that should he be arrested for a drug related crime and given the opportunity to give up his supplier for a more lenient sentence, that he would have been actively dealing.
In this case he was simply unlucky. So when given the choice of flipping on this dealer or being charged with third degree murder. He opted for the former. The fact that the dealer was illegal was some comfort as he will be deported and likely be treated far more gently in his home country. Possibly serving little or no time if he or his supplier had the funds to bribe the local law enforcement officials.
Regardless swim feels quite guilty for what he has done and rightly so. He took the cowards way out and nothing can change that. Due to swims actions a man who he sees as innocent is now suffering. There are many justifications for what swim did, however they bring him little comfort.

If swims out there feel a need to comment on swims cowardly actions. Please be gentle and put swiy in swims position and ask swiy honestly what they would do in that situation.
[/NOTE]

Swim now awaits his court date for the remaining charge of delivery of a schedule I controlled substance. Any suggestions regarding swims legal situation would be much appreciated.

Finally swim hopes that this story will inform and caution all those who sell, or broker the sale of any drug with the potential to cause a fatal overdose. Know who you are dealing with! As far as the legal system is concerned the blood is on your hands.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	thank you for sharing swims story
	Very honest and informative post that could be very useful for others that find themselves in a similar situation