SCRANTON—A Luzerne County woman has been found guilty of a high-profile bath salts conspiracy in Pennsylvania. Kerry Wylie, age 27, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on May 8, 2019, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute alpha-pvp, commonly known as “bath salts.”
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Wylie admitted to participating in the conspiracy between March 2014 and January 2016. The conspiracy involved the importation of alpha-pvp from suppliers in China, and the distribution of the drug to sub-distributors and customers in the Luzerne County area. Wylie admitted to being responsible for the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of approximately 1.5 kilograms of alpha-pvp.
Kerry Wylie was one of seven people indicted by a grand jury in August 2016. That indictment was the fourth indictment resulting from the lengthy investigation into “bath salts” trafficking conducted by Agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspectors, and members of the Pennsylvania State Police. In all, 18 people were charged as a result of the investigation, including a Texas-based couple who shipped “bath salts” to customers throughout the United States, including Pennsylvania.
Todd Morgans, of West Pittston, a major local supplier of “bath salts,” was previously sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment. David Folweiler, a Luzerne County sub-distributor, was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment. One of the Texas-based suppliers, Treiu Thuy Duong, received a 70-month prison sentence. Alan Folweiler received a 63-month sentence. Frank Brennan was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment.
The investigation has resulted in the seizure and forfeiture of several firearms, thousands of dollars in cash, hundreds of silver coins, real property and bank accounts valued at more than $750,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case. Judge Munley ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed, and scheduled sentencing for August 9, 2019. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The investigation has resulted in a significant blow to the “bath salts” trafficking network in the Luzerne County area, and law enforcement officials are hopeful that this guilty plea will serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar activities.
Kerry Wylie, a Luzerne County woman, pleaded guilty to a bath salts conspiracy in Pennsylvania. She faces up to 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The case is a prime example of the ongoing efforts to combat violent crime and make our communities safer.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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