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News
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2003
MISSOURI
MOTHER AND SON PLEAD GUILTY
Operation
Webslinger Defendants Plead In Internet Drug Case
A Festus Missouri
area mother and son pled guilty this morning to charges of conspiracy
to distribute for human consumption 1,4- butanediol, an analogue of gamma-hydroxybutyric
acid (commonly known as GHB), William J. Renton, Jr., Special Agent in
Charge (SAC) of the DEA St. Louis Division and United States Attorney
Ray Gruender announced today.
This case was part
of a nationwide Drug Enforcement Administration operation known as "Operation
Webslinger" coordinated by their joint law enforcement program called
the Special Operations Division, which is comprised of agents and analysts
from the DEA, FBI, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
and IRS, as well as attorneys from the Department of Justice's Criminal
Division. Locally, the Drug Enforcement Administration was assisted by
the United States Postal Inspection Service and the St. Louis County and
Festus, Missouri Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorneys
James Delworth and John Davis are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's
Office.
According to SAC
William J. Renton, Jr., "Today's guilty plea by Cassandra and Joshua
Harvey represents a major victory in the fight against club and predatory
drugs." These defendants were charged in Operation WEBSLINGER, the
Drug Enforcement Administration's most significant national investigation
to date targeting a prolific trafficking organization distributing GHB,
GBL and 1-4 BD, all of which constitute date rape drugs.
"This operation developed evidence sufficient to convict these traffickers
with using the internet and the anonymity of cyberspace to distribute
these dangerous drugs," Renton added. Through this investigation,
DEA was able to track these predatory drugs and their analogues from legitimate
chemical wholesalers to the Harvey's, who then packaged the drugs for
both wholesale and retail distribution.
"This is the
first internet drug distribution case prosecuted in the Eastern District
of Missouri," said U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender.
Through this international
investigation charges were brought against 175 individuals in North America
and Europe and to slow the spread of these highly dangerous controlled
substances.
CASSANDRA HARVEY,
54, of the 100 block of North 2nd Street, Festus, Missouri and JOSHUA
HARVEY, 24, of the 1300 block of Scenic Drive, Herculaneum, Missouri,
each pled guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to distribute 1,4 butanediol,
an analog of (GHB). Additionally, both defendants pled guilty to a forfeiture
count, wherein they will be required to forfeit various items that were
acquired from this drug conspiracy. They appeared this morning before
United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton.
Each defendant now
faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and/or a fine of $1,000,000.
Items subject to forfeiture include over $319,000 in U.S. currency, three
vehicles, jewelry, firearms, coins and real estate.
Sentencing for both
defendants has been set for January 16, 2003. They remain in custody pending
sentencing.
More than 2000 gallons
of 1,4- butanediol and $300,000 cash were seized at the time of their
arrest.
According to the
facts filed with the court, Cassandra Harvey and her son, Joshua Harvey,
operated a business over the internet by maintaining a web site that offered
1,4 butanediol for sale under the guise of a cleaning product utilizing
the name "Miracle Organic Solvent." However, the defendants
admitted that they knew the product they sold was being used for human
consumption. Cassandra Harvey had the principle role in the business and
Joshua was an active, knowing employee.
Their internet site
advertised 1,4 butanediol as a cleaning product with various uses including
spot remover, paint stripper and as a cleaning agent for computer circuit
boards, grating and brickwork and tile. Cassandra Harvey received the
1,4 butanediol in 55 gallon drums from chemical manufacturers by falsifying
her intended end use of the product. The Harveys pled guilty to distribution
of more than 10,000,000 dosage units. This amount of 1,4 butanediol represents
the approximately 200 gallons seized from storage facilities utilized
by Cassandra Harvey and the total internet sales of 1,4 butanediol.
1,4- butanediol is
a chemical intermediate generally classified as a captive use product;
that is, it is not intended for residential consumers, but is used in
the manufacture of other products. 1,4- butanediol is an analogue of GHB.
The chemical structure of 1,4 butanediol is substantially similar to GHB,
and when ingested into the human body, converts into GHB. GHB popularly
known as "G" is a Schedule I depressant. It has a euphoric effect
similar to alcohol intoxication. It can also have an amnesiac affect,
and for this reason, it is sometimes referred to as a date rape drug.
Mismanagement of the dosage units of GHB is very dangerous and can lead
to tragic results. As of November 2000 DEA had documented 71 deaths have
been attributed to GHB nationwide.
For additional information
please contact DEA St. Louis Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Jack Riley at 314-538-4600.
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