Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that Donald Reche Caldwell (35, Tampa) pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a positional isomer of Butylone, also known as Ethylone, and commonly marketed as the street drug “Molly." He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on May 13, 2014, Caldwell signed for and accepted a parcel containing 1.5 kilograms of Ethylone. The parcel had been mailed to the United States from China. On May 19, 2014, investigators intercepted a second parcel in Atlanta, containing one kilogram of Ethylone. Further investigation revealed that, just days earlier, Caldwell had mailed the parcel from Tampa.
As a positional isomer of Butylone, Ethylone is considered a Schedule I Controlled Substance.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
