It was announced in Anchorage yesterday by U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler that seven people in South Central Alaska were indicted on charges of Methylone conspiracy.

Methylone is a synthetic drug very similar to MDMA, or Ecstasy. The drug is generally used at parties, clubs and at Raves. It is usually imported over the Internet from China.

The conspiracy charges allege that Robin Gattis, 19, of Wasilla; Chad Cameron, 18, of Palmer; Stephen Kimbrell, 20, of Soldotna; Kevin Rupp, 21,of Anchorage; Shane O’Hare, 23, of Wasilla; Bren Marx, 20, of Palmer; and Haylee Hays, 19, of Anchorage, agreed to import methylone from China to Alaska and distribute it between September 2011,and July 2012.

According to a Justice Department release yesterday, Robin Gattis s is charged with distributing methylone in April 2012, resulting in the death of an unnamed person on or about April 15. Gattis is also charged with four counts of unlawfully importing methylone. Gattis, O’Hare, and Rupp are charged with possession of methylone with intent to distribute, and Gattis, Rupp, Marx, Kimbrell, and Cameron are charged with attempted possession of methylone with intent to distribute. Gattis, Cameron, Hays, and Kimbrell are all charged with international money laundering, based on allegations that they wired money to China via Western Union to pay for methylone shipments. The indictment alleges that Gattis used persons under age 18 to send money to China to buy methylone, and asked friends and associated to allow him to use their addresses to receive shipments.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that multiple shipments were made from China to Alaska via Express mail service from DHL and the Post Office. The conspirators used both services to receive multiple shipments in 2011 and 2012.

Alaska State Troopers arrested both Gattis and Marx in Palmer in February of 2012 when a shipment of Methylone was intercepted coming from China. The state charges were dropped after it was determined that the substance, initially believed to be ecstasy, was not illegal under Alaska law.

But, on or about the 15th of April of this year, Gattis emailed the Methylone provider in China telling them about the death of the unidentified person and demanded a refund.

It was not long, only a month, before Gattis was again receiving shipments from the supplier. An investigation was opened after the death of the person only identified as MGS, and two more packages were intercepted, one in Chicago and another in Soldotna. Gattis, Cameron and Kimbrell were arrested on July 30th, after they took possession of 850 grams of Methylone shipped from China.

Gattis could receive as long as life in prison if he is convicted on the charge of distribution resulting in death according to the Department of Justice. The charge against Gattis also has a minimum sentence of 20 years. All of the remaining 21 counts in the indictment carry penalties of a maximum 20 years in prison.

Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Anchorage Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Mat-Su Drug Unit investigated this case.