Isaac Melendez-Carranza, a 31-year-old man from El Salvador, was arrested on August 20, 2026, for allegedly distributing fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a school in Sterling, Virginia. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Melendez-Carranza has a final deportation order issued on July 18, 2024. He was previously apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas in 2016 after illegally entering the United States but was released on bond shortly thereafter.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has linked Melendez-Carranza to overdoses involving students from Park View High School that occurred in May 2026. During a search of his residence, deputies seized approximately 100 pills and $1,000 in cash. Two students were hospitalized due to suspected overdoses, and additional students were evaluated for symptoms.
Sheriff Mike Chapman expressed concern over the case, noting the potential impact of illicit drugs on local students. He confirmed that Melendez-Carranza will be handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after resolving his local charges. The sheriff's office indicated that further arrests may occur, although no specific timeline has been provided.