Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that Ryan
Orton, 29, of Hudson, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 15 years in
prison and six years supervised release for conspiracy to import bath salts, conspiracy to launder
money, and being a felon in possession of firearms. The court also ordered the forfeiture of seven
firearms, more than $10,000, and other property connected to the commission of the offenses.
According to court records, between mid-2011 and April 4, 2012, Orton illegally
obtained methylone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), two of the most commonly
abused “bath salts." Orton ordered the substances over the internet from China and had them
delivered to associates working with him. He paid for the shipments through wire transfers made
by associates. On April 4, 2012, he was arrested and his residence, a storage unit and his vehicle
were searched. Investigators seized, among other things, drugs, firearms, a ballistic vest, night
vision goggles, stun guns, and other weapons. Orton was prohibited from possessing firearms
because of prior felony drug convictions. The investigation revealed that Orton imported and
distributed throughout Penobscot County, six kilograms of methylone, over two kilograms of
MDPV, and other drugs.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
