Damon J. Murray, Ethylone Importation, New York 2015

Albany Man Sentenced to 51 Months for Importing Controlled Substance

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Damon J. Murray, age 28, of Albany, was sentenced to 51 months in prison and 6 years of supervised release for importing the controlled substance ethylone into the United States.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Richard S. Hartunian and James Spero, Special Agent in Charge for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Ethylone, which is often used as a party drug, has been a controlled substance since March 2014.

On February 12, 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers in Cincinnati, Ohio, intercepted a package that had been sent from China to the United States, and which was addressed to “Damon Murray LLC” at the defendant’s residential address in Albany.

The package was found to contain about 400 grams of ethylone. On February 26, 2015, the defendant accepted and signed for the package. HSI Special Agents then arrested the defendant, who admitted ordering the ethylone from China and also previously selling ethylone to others, sometimes marketing it as “molly.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett.

The defendant, Damon J. Murray, is hereby identified as the respondent. He was charged with importing the controlled substance ethylone into the United States. The city and state of the crime are Albany, New York. The exact date of the crime is not specified, but the package was intercepted on February 12, 2015, and the defendant was arrested on February 26, 2015. The sentence or outcome of the case is 51 months in prison and 6 years of supervised release.

This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat the importation and sale of controlled substances. The importation of ethylone, a controlled substance since March 2014, poses a significant threat to public health and safety.

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