Pittston Man Guilty of Bath Salts Conspiracy

David Popish, 38, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, is headed for federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute alpha-pvp — a synthetic stimulant better known on the street as “bath salts.” The plea, entered January 19, 2017, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton, caps a sprawling investigation into one of Luzerne County’s most persistent underground drug networks.

According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Popish admitted to working with others to push the dangerous drug across Luzerne County during 2014 and 2015. Alpha-pvp, a chemical cousin to methamphetamine, has been tied to violent outbursts, hallucinations, and emergency room surges nationwide. Popish’s role placed him squarely in the supply chain feeding addiction and chaos in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Popish was one of seven individuals indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2016. His case marks the fourth wave of arrests in an ongoing federal crackdown targeting alpha-pvp distribution. Since July 2013, 18 people have been charged — including the ringleader based in Texas who supplied the bulk of the drug. Popish is the twelfth defendant to plead guilty, signaling the collapse of the network.

Federal investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania State Police, and multiple Luzerne County local agencies spent years tracking shipments, intercepting packages, and running controlled buys. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case, building on forensic evidence and cooperation from earlier defendants.

Judge Munley has ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for April 27, 2017. While the maximum penalty for the crime is 20 years in federal prison, a fine, and supervised release, the actual sentence will hinge on federal guidelines — including the nature of the offense, Popish’s criminal history, and the court’s assessment of deterrence and public safety.

Federal authorities warn that despite the wave of convictions, synthetic drugs like bath salts continue to slip through legal cracks and devastate communities. Popish’s guilty plea is a win — but the high-powered chemistry of the drug trade evolves faster than the law can chase it.