PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Westerly man, Scott Slagel, 41, has been brought to justice after admitting to operating a butane hash oil lab in his home. The lab posed a significant risk to human life after a fire broke out in the early morning hours of November 27, 2015.
The fire occurred in a multi-unit apartment building on Apache Drive in Westerly. Investigators quickly discovered the active lab in the unit where the fire originated and located various items used in butane hash oil manufacturing, including marijuana plants, multiple cans of butane, glass tubes, and a vacuum oven containing the highly potent substance, commonly referred to as “shatter.”
Slagel appeared before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. and admitted to using the items to manufacture butane hash oil using the open-blast method, a highly hazardous approach.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert. The matter was investigated by the Westerly Police Department, DEA, and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Slagel has been free on unsecured bond since his arraignment on April 5, 2016. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16, 2016.
This incident highlights the dangers of home-based butane hash oil labs and the risks they pose to those living nearby. The Providence Journal will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
The prosecution of Scott Slagel serves as a reminder of the seriousness of operating a butane hash oil lab and the consequences of such actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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