Four more charged in synthetic drug ring

MAT-SU — A three-member drug ring selling synthetic ecstasy has expanded in federal court to include four more suspect, and prosecutors are alleging the imported drugs led to one death.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Kevin Rupp, 21, of Anchorage, Shane O’Hare, 23, of Wasilla, Bren Marx, 20, of Palmer, and Haylee Hays, 19, of Anchorage, were added to the list of charged conspirators.

Already charged were Robin Gattis, 19, son of recently elected state Rep. Lynn Gatts, Chad Cameron, 18, of Palmer and Stephen Kimbrell, 20, of Soldotna.

The way the conspiracy worked, the federal law enforcement alleges, was that from September 2011 to July 2012 conspirators in Alaska imported chemicals from China and sold them in Alaska.

“The indictment alleges that the conspirators used both Express Mail Service from the U.S. Post Office and the private commercial shipper DHL,” according to the press release. “Multiple shipments were made, received and distributed.”

The feds say that at some point in all of this someone — identified only by initials in the press release — died.

“After MGS died on or about April 15, according to the indictment, Gattis emailed the supplier in China, advising of the death and asking for a refund,” the press release says. “However, the indictment alleges that less than a month later, Gattis was ordering more methylone from the same supplier.”

The case went federal three months after a similar state case collapsed when laboratory tests found that the chemical compound the crew was selling had not yet been made illegal under Alaska law.

Gattis is charged with distributing methylone resulting in a death. He, O’Hare and Rupp are charged with possessing methylone with intent to distribute. Gattis, Rupp, Marx, Kimbrell and Cameron are charged with attempting to possess methylone with intent to distribute. Gattis, Cameron, Hays and Kimbrell are charged with international money laundering for wiring money to China to pay for the drugs.

“Gattis faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted on the charge of distribution resulting in death, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. Each of the other 21 remaining charges in the indictment carries a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment,” according to the press release.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.