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May 19, 2021Columbus, OH, United StatesNarcotics

HSI aids in investigation of online sales of psychedelic mushrooms

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal grand jury has charged six individuals with selling liquid psychedelic mushrooms online to customers all over the country, including at least one identified customer in Columbus, Ohio.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Lisa B. Mendelsohn, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, DEA; Vance Callender, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the charges. The case was investigated by the South-Central Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Cyber Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Hunter is representing the United States in this case.

Those charged include:

Name Age Residence
James Verl Barlow 44 Las Vegas
Matthew Taylor Barlow 35 Murray, Utah
Ronald Royal Edward Brust 45 Las Vegas
Jennifer Helen Campbell 42 Murray, Utah
Monet L. Carriere 32 Las Vegas
Tony Du Phan 44 Memphis, Tenn.

The six defendants were charged by criminal complaint in April with attempting and conspiring to manufacture, distribute and dispense controlled substances using cryptocurrencies via the dark web. The group was allegedly orchestrating millions of dollars of online drug sales.

In the indictment filed today, the defendants are charged with one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a psychedelic mushroom analogue. Each of the defendants faces up to 20 years in prison.

According to court documents, between November 2013 and April 2021, co-conspirators sold liquid psychedelic mushrooms in nine milligram vials for approximately $20 each on the darknet through the moniker TRIPWITHSCIENCE.

In this case, the government seeks to forfeit the profits of the alleged drug scheme, as well as a 2016 Tesla Model-X Wagon and land in Brighton, Colorado valued at more than $1.5 million.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

HSI is a directorate of ICE, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 Special Agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

To report a crime, call 866-347-2423 (TTY for hearing impaired: 802-872-6196) or visit the ICE Tip Line.

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