SAN JOSE - A federal grand jury in San Jose indicted Matthew Wilcox Hutchings today, charging him with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin.
The three-count indictment alleges that on or about May 7, 2019, Hutchings, 24, of Soquel, possessed with the intent to distribute LSD (distribute lysergic acid diethylamide), MDMA (3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine or Molly), and psilocybin mushrooms.
An affidavit filed by an agent with Homeland Security Investigations in connection with a previously-filed criminal complaint in the case alleged that Hutchings sold psilocybin mushrooms and MDMA to an undercover agent on three occasions in March and April of 2019. On May 7, 2019, UC Santa Cruz police and others executed a search warrant at Hutchings’ residence. The indictment charges Hutchings with three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
Hutchings was arrested on June 4, 2019, and currently remains in federal custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 24 2019, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen for a status conference.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years prison time, and a fine of $1,000,000, on each count. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Griswold is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Elise Etter and Nina Burney. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and the University of California Santa Cruz Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
