Kristopher Gale Hanks, Conspiracy to Deliver Misbranded Drugs, Arizona 2017

PHOENIX, Arizona – In a shocking turn of events, a former Federal Air Marshal has been sentenced to three years’ probation for his involvement in a conspiracy to deliver misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.

Kristopher Gale Hanks, 40, of Ashburn, Va., was sentenced by United States Senior District Judge Roslyn O. Silver on [no specific date mentioned, but presumably 2017].

Hanks had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deliver misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. The investigation revealed that Hanks assisted co-conspirators in making and selling “spice” products, and later made and sold a “bath salt” product called “Flash Bang” that was redistributed in Arizona and elsewhere.

“Spice” and “bath salts” are drugs that look like marijuana or cocaine but are falsely labeled and sold as innocuous household products like “incense,” “potpourri,” or “bath treatments” in an effort to circumvent federal drug and consumer laws.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. The prosecution was handled by D. J. Pashayan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

Hanks’ involvement in this conspiracy ended in the summer of 2011 when he joined the Federal Air Marshal Service. Prior to his involvement in this case, Hanks was employed as a police officer with the Salt Lake City, Utah, and Gilbert, Ariz., police departments and as a security contractor with the Department of Defense in Iraq.

The case number is CR-16-0989-PHX-ROS, and the release number is 2017-007_Hanks.

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant/respondent REAL full name: Kristopher Gale Hanks
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to deliver misbranded drugs into interstate commerce
City and state: Phoenix, Arizona
Exact date: No specific date mentioned, but presumably 2017
Sentence or outcome: Three years’ probation

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