Scott Slagel, 41, of Westerly, Rhode Island, was sentenced today to three years probation for running a volatile butane hash oil (BHO) lab inside his apartment — an operation so reckless it sparked a fire and endangered an entire residential building. U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. handed down the sentence after Slagel pleaded guilty to endangering human life while illegally manufacturing a controlled substance.
The fire broke out in the early morning hours of November 27, 2015, at a multi-unit complex on Apache Drive in Westerly. Firefighters responding to the blaze found the origin point in Slagel’s unit, where they discovered an active BHO lab hidden in plain sight. Investigators recovered marijuana plants, multiple cans of butane, glass tubing, and a vacuum oven laced with shatter — the street name for concentrated butane hash oil.
Slagel admitted in court that he used the open-blast method to extract THC from marijuana — a process known for its instability and high risk of explosion. The technique involves blasting pressurized butane through cannabis material in unsealed containers, creating a volatile mix that can ignite with a single spark. In this case, the spark came — and the fire followed.
Despite the clear danger, prosecutors had pushed for a 27-month prison term, within the 24 to 30-month federal sentencing guideline range. The government argued that manufacturing BHO in a populated residential area showed a blatant disregard for public safety. Yet the judge opted for probation, drawing quiet murmurs from law enforcement officials in the courtroom.
U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha, who prosecuted four separate BHO lab cases in March 2016, reiterated his office’s hardline stance: ‘This activity poses an enormous threat to human life. Where BHO manufacturing is going on, no one is safe — not residents, not visitors, not first responders.’ He emphasized that demand for concentrated cannabis, even for medical use, does not excuse the deadly risks.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Westerly Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and Richard B. Myrus prosecuted the case. Slagel now walks free — but under strict supervision — as authorities warn others that federal eyes remain locked on underground drug labs across Rhode Island.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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