A 26-year-old man who was convicted on drug-related charges after selling synthetic drugs that led to the deaths of two North Dakota residents had his sentencing postponed on June 30. According to the report, the man is the latest of 15 individuals to be convicted as part of a crackdown that is being called “Operation Stolen Youth.”
The two deceased teenagers, aged 18 and 17, reportedly died within one week of each other in June 2012. It was determined that both died after ingesting a hallucinogen that was made using chemicals sold by the 26-year-old man. The prosecution stated that the man knew that the chemicals he was selling were dangerous. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance in April.
The man’s attorney, who was appointed by the court, stated that his client played a minor role and had no power over the decisions being made. He reported that his client knew about the two fatalities and admitted that the company he was working for continued to sell the dangerous chemicals. As a result, the attorney requested a prison sentence that was not longer than 10 years. His sentencing was rescheduled for July 21.
Those who are facing charges for selling or possessing illegal substances may face extensive punishments. For example, the man in this case, who has already been convicted, may be facing years in prison. In a case like this, the attorney may be able to reduce the amount of prison time that their client may be sentenced to by negotiating a plea bargain. This means that the client may still face a jail sentence, but the amount of jail time may be less than a normal sentence.
Source: The Republic, “Sentencing set for employee of company that illegally sold synthetic drugs linked to deaths”, June 30, 2014
