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WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A 36 year old Wick, West Virginia, resident was sentenced on April 1, 2013, in United States District Court in Wheeling before Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.
United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that PHILLIP JAMES HAMILTON, JR., was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. HAMILTON entered a plea of guilty on Oct. 11, 2012, to Conspiracy to Distribute a Synthetic Drug known as “Bath Salts". The substances in this case contained the chemicals Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and N-methyl-N- ethylcathione (4-MEC). HAMILTON and his co-defendant Steven Kloh, who was sentenced in October of 2012 to 24 months imprisonment, obtained the “bath salts" in Columbus, Ohio, from a convenience store and then returned to rural Tyler County, West Virginia, where they repackaged them and resold them.
“Bath Salts", which is how they are referred to among users and dealers, are synthetic chemical compounds created to simulate other controlled substances such as methamphetamine and ecstasy, and mimic their psychological and hallucinogenic effects. The substances are addictive and are often sold at gas stations, convenience stores, and over the internet.
HAMILTON also forfeited $608 in United States currency seized on September 6,
2011, in Tyler County, West Virginia, which is property derived from proceeds obtained directly or indirectly from the drug activity.
HAMILTON was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr and was investigated by the Tyler County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
