Synthetic drug trafficker sentenced to more than 3 years in federal prison
PHILADELPHIA – A bath salts drug trafficker was sentenced Thursday to three and a half years in federal prison after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Richard King, of Long Island, New York, was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methylone, a synthetic drug commonly referred to as bath salts. He pleaded guilty to the offense Sept. 9, 2014.
HSI Philadelphia special agents arrested King and his conspirator Kevin McKail in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, on the charges. King and McKail drove from Long Island, New York, and paid $10,000 for the narcotics.
The investigation began when a package of bath salts was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and JFK International Airport authorities two months before the arrests. The package of drugs was sent from China with an ultimate destination to Wilkes Barre, but was intercepted through the HSI investigation.
"Criminals are inventive and prey on people as long as they think there is money to be made," said John Kelleghan HSI Philadelphia special agent in charge. "Don’t let the name deceive you. These are dangerous synthetic drugs that can make people sick and have been linked to deaths across the country. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to get them off the streets.”
The following agencies assisted with the HSI-led investigation: CBP, the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations for Pennsylvania and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department.
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