Pennsylvania man charged with distributing bath salts, firearms violations

SCRANTON, Pa. — An Athens, Pennsylvania, man was charged in federal court Tuesday for distributing and intent to distribute bath salts after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation.

A grand jury in Scranton indicted Wyatt Robert Yanney, 24, for allegedly ordering and obtaining shipments of the synthetic misbranded drugs, commonly referred to as “bath salts” by mail from China in August 2015 for use and distribution in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and in New York.

Yanney also is charged with improper possession of firearms. In the indictment, the government is seeking forfeiture of the firearms and approximately $900 cash.

The investigation was conducted by HSI, the U.S. Postal Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Athens Borough Police Department. It is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley for prosecution.

Indictments and criminal informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.