Kevin Peterson, Alpha-PVP Conspiracy, Pennsylvania 2017

Scranton’s streets have long been a battleground for synthetic drug trade, and Kevin Peterson, 33, just became the latest casualty of federal justice. Peterson pleaded guilty on February 13, 2017, to conspiracy to distribute alpha-pvp, better known on the street as ‘bath salts,’ a hallucinogenic stimulant tied to violent outbursts and mental collapse.

The admission came before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton, where Peterson, once a resident of Luzerne County, admitted to working with others to push the dangerous drug through local networks during 2014 and 2015. According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the operation fed a growing epidemic in the region, with users risking psychosis for a cheap high.

Peterson wasn’t acting alone. He was one of seven indicted in August 2016, the fourth wave of arrests stemming from a sprawling investigation into alpha-pvp distribution. Since July 2013, 18 individuals have been charged—including the Texas-based supplier who funneled bulk quantities into Pennsylvania. Thirteen, including Peterson, have now pleaded guilty.

Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspectors, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Luzerne County locals dismantled the network through surveillance, controlled buys, and forensic tracking. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is leading the prosecution, building a case that links street-level dealers to interstate supply chains.

Peterson now waits for judgment. Judge Munley has ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for May 16, 2017. Though the maximum penalty under federal law is 20 years in prison, a fine, and supervised release, the actual sentence will hinge on federal guidelines weighing the crime’s severity and the defendant’s background.

The message from the Middle District of Pennsylvania is clear: synthetic drug networks will be tracked, torn apart, and prosecuted. For Kevin Peterson, the high is over. The price is about to be paid.

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