A New York man and a woman from Howell have pleaded guilty to their roles in a cross-country conspiracy to distribute designer drugs over the internet, including a synthetic opioid that is several times more potent than morphine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced on March 28.
Brian Parker, 34, of Long Island City, N.Y., and Victoria Koleski, 30, of Howell, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls, sitting in Newark, to separate informations charging them each with one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substance analogues, and one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substance analogues, according to Carpenito.
Controlled substance analogues are designer drugs that have chemical structures and hallucinogenic effects similar to Schedule I controlled substances.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Parker admitted that from May 16, 2016 through Aug. 3, 2017, he conspired with others to distribute the controlled substance analogues U-47700, a synthetic opioid several times more potent than morphine, and A-PHP and 3-MEO-PCP, which have chemical structures and hallucinogenic properties similar to A-PVP and PCP, respectively.
Parker manufactured and distributed these drugs and other illegal chemicals through two internet-based companies he controlled, Unbeatablechems and RC Powders.
Parker admitted that on May 16, 2016, he distributed U-47700 to a customer in Madison, Wisc., which resulted in the death of that individual on May 22, 2016.
Parker used other conspirators, such as 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 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.
Koleski admitted that from December 2016 through August 2017, she conspired with Parker to distribute controlled substance analogues. She also admitted that from June 30, 2017 through July 5, 2017, she shipped multiple parcels from a local post office that contained controlled substance analogues A-PHP and 3-MEO-PCP.
Both charges in the informations carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing for Parker and Koleski is scheduled for July 2 and July 3, respectively, according to the U.S. Attorney.
