Former Vancouver entrepreneur Ryan A. “Bo” Scott was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in federal prison for leading a plot to distribute more than $5 million of synthetic designer drugs around the world, according to a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Scott, 34, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in May to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In addition to prison time, Judge Ancer Haggerty sentenced Scott to three years of court supervision.
“This long-term investigation took down one of the largest synthetic drug manufacturers on the West Coast,” said U. S. Attorney Amanda Marshall in a statement. “These synthetic designer drugs are dangerous, and we are fortunate to have partner agencies …who are committed to stopping the distribution of these poisons to our kids.”
Synthetic drugs have become a public health concern because of such side effects as rapid heart rate, chest pain, nosebleeds, sweating, nausea, vomiting, psychological disturbances and instances of death.
The investigation began in 2011 when U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents detected suspicious shipments from Peru to Scott’s company, KTW Enterprises. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations served a search warrant at the defendant’s business in April 2011 and seized more than 500 pounds of synthetic drugs labeled as “K2” and “not for human consumption.”
Those involved mixed chemical compounds together with herb extracts. They marketed the products as “incense” on the Internet, using dozens of domain names in an attempt to obtain a monopoly on the market for K2.
The investigation culminated May 15, 2012, when investigators served search warrants at the suspects’ residences and a warehouse in Vancouver, where agents seized hundreds of pounds of dried plant materials, packaging equipment and chemicals.
Brad Bench, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Seattle, said Scott and his co-conspirators made millions selling “incense” to young people and members of the military.
“This was a despicable act considering the proof-positive evidence we now have of the harmful effects of the (drugs),” he said in a statement.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah K. Bolstad and Michelle H. Kerin.
