Texas synthetic drug ringleader sentenced to 246 months for his role in the deaths of 2 North Dakota teens

FARGO, N.D. — A Texas man was sentenced in federal court Thursday to more than 20 years in prison for conspiring with 14 other people to possess and distribute synthetic drugs that killed two North Dakota teens in 2012.

This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Grand Forks (North Dakota) Police Department.

Charles William Carlton, 29, of Katy, Texas, was sentenced to 246 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and controlled substance analogues resulting in serious bodily injury or death, introduction and delivery of a misbranded drug and money laundering.

On June 11, 2012, the Grand Forks Police Department responded to a call about a male lying on a city sidewalk. Upon arriving, officers found 18-year-old Christian Bjerk, who had died from an overdose. A few blocks away officers found two other teens, 18-year-old Wesley Sweeney and a 15-year-old male, who were disoriented and hallucinating. Both were taken to a local hospital.

Two days later law enforcement again responded to a call as 17-year-old Elijah Stai had stopped breathing and ultimately died from a similar drug overdose. It was determined that both overdoses resulted from ingesting N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-4-iodo-2 and 5-dimethoxyphenethlylamine, chemicals illegally imported by Carlton and his co-conspirators to craft synthetic drugs.

The law enforcement response in the ensuing investigation, titled Operation Stolen Youth, was swift. Within two months local, state and federal law enforcement agencies had identified and dismantled an international drug trafficking organization responsible for the drugs that killed Stai and Bjerk.

"The criminals who import and distribute these drugs have scant regard for human life in their reckless pursuit of illicit profits," said Special Agent in Charge J. Michael Netherland of HSI St. Paul, which oversees North Dakota. "For criminal organizations seeking to profit through the sale of illegal narcotics, the message is clear: we know how you operate, we know where you hide, and we will not stop until we bring you to justice."

Also, for the first time ever, the DEA officially determined that these drugs were analogues of a Schedule I controlled substance – 2, 5-Dimethoxy-4bromopheethlamine – which is known to be very powerful and dangerous.

The Federal Analog Act is a section of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act passed in 1986 which allowed any chemical "substantially similar" to a controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II to be treated as if it were also listed in those schedules.

The investigation into the source of the drugs revealed a conspiracy involving the illegal importation and distribution of many controlled substances. The conspirators used an online business called Motion Resources to import the illegal substances from several countries and then sold them throughout the United States.

"In response to the tragic deaths of two young people from our community, the response of local, state and federal law enforcement was remarkable," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Myers. "Within 60 days, they identified and dismantled an international drug trafficking organization and undoubtedly saved lives. The 15 defendants that were held accountable for their roles in this case hopefully will provide a measure of justice for the families of Christian Bjerk and Elijah Stai."

"Not only is a criminal going to prison for his crimes, but the government has seized a significant portion of the illegal proceeds through asset forfeiture," stated Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the IRS St. Paul Field Office. "The role of IRS Criminal Investigation in narcotics investigations is to follow the money so we can financially disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. One of the government's most powerful weapons is the ability to seize through asset forfeiture the assets associated with narcotics-related crimes. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to provide its financial expertise as we work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring criminals to justice"

"Today's sentence concludes an extensive investigation and demonstrates the continued commitment of FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations and its law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who sell unapproved and harmful products over the internet that threaten the public health. Unfortunately, in this case there were deadly consequences and the perpetrators of this crime have been punished accordingly. FDA takes its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the US consumer very seriously," said Special Agent-in-Charge John J. Redmond of the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations, Chicago Field Office.

Operation Stolen Youth uncovered 14 other defendants who were identified as Carlton's co-conspirators. Five of those defendants also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute analogue controlled substance resulting in death. The sentences for the other defendants are as follows:

• Casey Rosen -Minneapolis, Minn., 20 years
• Andrew Spofford- Fargo, N.D., 17.5 years
• Wesley Sweeney- Manvel, N.D., 12.5 years
• Adam Budge- Grand Forks, N.D., 11.3 years
• John Polinski- Houston, Texas, 11 years
• Peter Hoistad- Grand Forks, N.D. 8 years
• Ryan Lane- East Grand Forks, Minn., 5 years
• William Fox- Grand Forks, N.D., 4 years
• Byron Landry- Kiln, Miss., 40 months
• Stephen Bucher- Bemidji, Minn., 36 months
• Ron Norling- Grand Forks, N.D., 27 months
• Dilion Breen - Grand Forks, N.D., 16 months
• Scott Anthony- Grand Forks, N.D., 15 months
• Allyson Desantos- Grand Forks, N.D., Probation

Carlton's sentence will be followed by three of years of supervised release and he must pay a $300 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund. Carlton was also ordered to forfeit $385,000 in proceeds related to Motion Resources.