BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Two Brunswick men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a drug distribution scheme involving synthetic cathinone coordinated through Facebook Messenger.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood sentenced 54-year-old Alen Addison to 82 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, while co-defendant Minus Tyler, 45, received a sentence of 48 months in prison.
According to court documents and testimony, Addison and Tyler conspired to distribute cathinone in Glynn County from April 2023 through August 2023. Federal officials said the defendants used Facebook Messenger to negotiate and arrange the sales. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the sentences following the multi-agency law enforcement investigation.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Human remains found near popular Georgia vacation destination
- 4 overdoses reported at Paulding County home before 12 arrests
- Georgia mother, son found dead after collapsing in yard
“Synthetic substances like cathinone are a real threat to communities,” Heap said. “This investigation was the result of intuitive law enforcement that succeeded in identifying the pathway of these illicit drugs, tracing it to the distributor and resulted in this prosecution and protecting our citizens from these dangerous substances.”
Addison pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute substituted cathinone. Following his 82-month prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release.
Tyler pleaded guilty to use of a communication facility and will serve one year of supervised release after completing his 48-month sentence. Multiple agencies participated in the investigation, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Harper III and Jennifer J. Kirkland prosecuted the case on behalf of the federal government. Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division, highlighted the multi-agency coordination during the operation.
“The outcome of this case is a testament to the professionalism and perseverance of the investigators who worked together throughout this investigation,” Connolly said. “DEA and our partner agencies combined resources, expertise and investigative information to uncover the scope of the conspiracy and build a case for prosecution. We are grateful for the commitment of every agency and individual who contributed to this joint effort.”
Synthetic cathinones are derivatives of cathinone, the active psychoactive ingredient in the khat plant Catha edulis. Like amphetamines, these psychomotor stimulants exert their effects by impairing normal brain function. A study from the National Library of Medicine on the neuropharmacology of synthetic cathinones notes that certain varieties are powerful drugs of abuse that pose significant health risks to users.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]