A man from New York and a woman from Howell were arrested on Aug. 29 in connection with their alleged roles in a conspiracy to distribute dangerous designer drugs, including a synthetic opioid that is several times more potent than morphine, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Brian Parker, 34, of Long Island City, N.Y., and Victoria Koleski, 29, of Howell, are charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute controlled substance analogues, and distributing and possessing with intent to distribute the controlled substance analogues U-47700, A-PHP and 3-MEO-PCP.
According to the complaint: Controlled substance analogues are designer drugs that have chemical structures and hallucinogenic effects similar to Schedule I controlled substances.
Parker, who has two prior convictions for federal narcotics related crimes, allegedly manufactured and distributed controlled substance analogues and other illegal chemicals through two internet-based companies he controlled. The substances sold by Parker were linked to an overdose death which occurred in May 2016, according to authorities.
On May 22, 2016, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a residence in Madison, Wisc., in response to a report of a 37-year-old man who had stopped breathing. The man was dead by the time officers arrived at his residence. An autopsy confirmed his death was caused by acute intoxication due to the combined effects of a substance called U-47700 and Benzodiazepine Analogue (Etizolam).
U-47700 is a synthetic opioid that is several times more potent than morphine. Law enforcement officers recovered several mail parcels that were addressed to the man, one or more of which contained full glass vials labeled U-47700, as well as multiple invoices indicating the victim had been ordering U-47700 and other substances from a website run by Parker.
After learning of the man’s overdose, law enforcement agents began investigating one of Parker’s websites. The investigation revealed that Parker allegedly used other conspirators, including Koleski, to send and receive packages for his narcotics distribution business.
Those conspirators received raw materials from China or elsewhere through the mail, repackaged and sent them to Parker, who then allegedly manufactured those materials into the chemicals he sold online. Afterward, Parker transported the finished products back to his conspirators, who then shipped them to Parker’s customers.
For example, from June 30, 2017 through July 5, 2017, Koleski allegedly shipped approximately 218 parcels from a post office in Farmingdale, many of which contained controlled substance analogues Parker sold online.
A court-authorized search and seizure of approximately 75 of those packages revealed that Parker and Koleski were also allegedly distributing the controlled substance analogues A-PHP and 3-MEO-PCP, which have chemical structures and hallucinogenic properties similar to the Schedule I controlled substances A-PVP and PCP, respectively.
Each charge in the complaint carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to the U.S. Attorney.
