Synthetic drug supplier pleads guilty

A Baltimore man who supplied synthetic drugs to drug dealers in Central Virginia, pleaded guilty this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg to related drug charges.

Carlo Ernesto D’Addario, 42, of Baltimore, Md., was indicted in July 2012 on charges related to his distribution of synthetic drugs. Today in United States District Court, D’Addario pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance analogue.

“Mr. D’Addario endangered the health and safety of Virginians when he imported synthetic drugs into our communities,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said Monday. “These substances are volatile and dangerous, as reflected in a recent surge in emergency room visits and violent outbursts by users. We must approach the problem of synthetic drugs in our communities with both vigorous enforcement and persistent education. Cases like this one demonstrate our commitment to prosecuting those who seek to profit on the sale of these dangerous illegal drugs. We will also continue to provide information about the dangers of these synthetic drugs and warn users and others about the potential for unanticipated health effects that often result from the use of these substances.”

D’Addario admitted today to supplying synthetic drugs, also known as bath salts, to drug dealers in and around Augusta County. He has admitted that he transported the synthetic drugs from the Baltimore, Md., region to Augusta County, where he then sold the drugs to Holly Sprouse, a resident of Augusta County. Sprouse has previously pled guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance analogue.

At sentencing, the maximum possible penalty faced by the defendant is up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000,000.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Ronald Huber is prosecuting the case for the United States.