Presque Isle Man Gets 4 Years for Bath Salts Conspiracy

Andrew Grivois, 32, of Presque Isle, Maine, was sentenced today to four years in federal prison for his role in a multi-year conspiracy to distribute bath salts across Aroostook County. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., includes an additional three years of supervised release following incarceration.

Grivois pleaded guilty on March 3, 2016, to one count of conspiring to distribute synthetic stimulants commonly known as bath salts. The case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew McCormack, reveals a network of individuals using online channels to import and resell dangerous narcotics under the guise of legal products.

Court records show that between June 2012 and June 2014, Grivois repeatedly ordered bulk shipments of bath salts from suppliers in China, both for personal use and to distribute to co-conspirators. These substances, often marketed as “not for human consumption,” contain powerful psychoactive compounds linked to hallucinations, paranoia, and violent behavior.

The investigation, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, uncovered a coordinated effort to exploit shipping loopholes and evade detection. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department provided critical support in tracking deliveries and identifying distribution points.

Grivois’s arrest and conviction underscore the federal government’s continued crackdown on synthetic drug networks operating in rural regions. Bath salts, though often dismissed as novelty items, are classified as Schedule I controlled substances due to their high potential for abuse and lack of medical use.

U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II emphasized that cases like this threaten community safety and will be met with aggressive prosecution. Grivois will begin his sentence immediately and remain under federal supervision upon release.