⏱ 4 min read
Devin Michael Tew, a 40-year-old man from West Jordan, Utah, has been found guilty of selling ‘PoppySeed Wash’ kits online, designed to help customers get high on opiates. The kits, which included unwashed poppy seeds, instructions, and a strainer, allowed users to brew a tea containing morphine, codeine, and thebaine. Tew operated his illegal business from 2018 to 2022, marketing his products on his website and social media.
Tew’s ‘PoppySeed Wash’ kits were sold to customers across the country, who used them to get high on the opium coatings of the poppy seeds. The kits were designed to be used at home, with customers following Tew’s instructions to manufacture the opioid-rich tea. Evidence presented at trial showed that Tew made hundreds of thousands of dollars from his illegal business, with daily withdrawals of up to $10,000.
The case against Tew was built on evidence from his website, social media posts, and testimony from federal agents. In 2020 and 2022, FDA chemists conducted tests that confirmed the presence of controlled substances in the ‘PoppySeed Wash’ kits. Tew’s guilty verdict is the result of a three-day trial in Salt Lake City, where he was charged with unlawful possession of drug-manufacturing paraphernalia.
Tew’s conviction is a significant blow to the online sale of opioid-rich products, which have contributed to the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States. The case highlights the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat the illegal sale of controlled substances online and the need for continued vigilance in the face of evolving threats to public health.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Utah
- Location: UT
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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