USA - Arizona man gets life sentence for selling designer drugs online

[chillinwill]

An Arizona man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for selling designer drugs over the Internet that led to the overdose death of a New York teenager.

David Linder, also known as Dr. Benway, was convicted in February of 27 counts, including drug conspiracy and money laundering. The federal jury found Linder was responsible for the death of Phillip Conklin, 18, of Hancock, N.Y. Authorities said Linder's sentencing was especially harsh because of the teenager's death.

Linder also was ordered to pay $700,000, the amount the government said he made selling the drugs.

Linder, 52, testified that the drugs he sold were "research chemicals" and not federally banned narcotics. But prosecutors said the chemicals were generic equivalents of hallucinogenic drugs such as Ecstasy.

Linder sold the drugs from a link off a landscaping supplies Web site. The link on the site led to a page titled "Research Chemicals."

Federal law prohibits possession and sale of analogous versions of illegal substances.

"This sentencing accurately reflects the tremendous harm caused by the defendant's drug trafficking," U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said in a statement. "It also sends a clear warning of what may happen to anyone who pushes drugs over the Internet."

May 18, 2005
Azstarnet
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/75749.php

[bigloc]

swim wonders what chemicals were "generic equivalents of hallucinogenic drugs such as Ecstasy".

[Bajeda]

Wow, did the guy appeal the sentence? I didn't know of any prior use of the analogue act to prosecute people for dealing or using RCs.

[Alfa]

operation web tryp

Reputation Comments on this post:

Very helpful link, thanks.

[MarkyMayhem]

yea really, "generic equivalents of hallucinogenic drugs such as Ecstasy"
WTF is THAT supposed to mean?
I mean, there is say, Dexedrine(TM) which is d-amphetamine, and also the generic equivalent, dextroamphetamine, or d-amphetamine....

So how can a non-trademarked drug have a generic equivalent, let alone an illeagle drug?

asinine!

Reputation Comments on this post:

Indeed! Was just about to post that but you beat me to it. Stupid journalist...