COLUMBUS, Ohio – A trio of defendants charged with selling liquid psychedelic mushrooms online has pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbus.
James Verl Barlow, 44, of Las Vegas, and Matthew Taylor Barlow, 35, of Murray, Utah, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today, while Jennifer Helen Cambpell, 42, also of Murray, Utah, admitted her guilt yesterday.
The three defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a psychedelic mushroom analogue. James Barlow also pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder the drug proceeds.
According to James Barlow’s court documents, as part of his guilty plea, he will forfeit approximately $15 million in drug proceeds and property, including millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency, more than half a million dollars in cash, a 2016 Tesla Model-X Wagon, and land in Brighton, Colorado, valued at more than $1.5 million, as part of this case.
Between November 2013 and April 2021, the defendants sold liquid psychedelic mushrooms in nine milligram vials for approximately $20 each on the darknet through the monikers TRIPWITHSCIENCE and PERFECTSHROOMS. Court documents detail that at least one customer was located in Columbus.
James Barlow used individuals in Nevada, Utah and Maryland to arrange shipments of both powder and liquid mushrooms from Las Vegas, Memphis, and Gulf Breeze, Florida, to customers throughout the United States and Europe.
In total, the investigation by the Central Ohio Cyber Drug Task Force determined Barlow’s organization was responsible for distributing 315 kilograms of powder mushroom analogues and 3,200 kilograms of liquid mushrooms.
The defendants face up to 20 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The pleas were announced by Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and other law enforcement officials.
Related Federal Cases
- Ranset Rodriguez, Skimming Scheme, Ohio 2017 · New York
- Live Nation, Antitrust Lawsuit, New York NY, 2024 · Oklahoma
- Mushroom Moguls Nabbed, Psychedelic Mushroom Distribution, OH 2024 · Maryland
- Amgen Pays $71M for Pushing Drugs Off-Label · Oklahoma
- Amgen Inc, Pharmaceutical Misrepresentation, California 2024 · Oklahoma
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
