WHEELING, W.Va. (AP) - An Ohio man is the first person to be convicted in West Virginia on federal bath salts distribution charges.
U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld says 35-year-old Steven Kohl of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty Wednesday to aiding and abetting interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise.
The charge stems from Kohl's role in bringing the synthetic drugs to Tyler County from Columbus in September 2011.
Ihlenfeld says Kohl is the first bath salts dealer convicted on federal charges in West Virginia. But he says synthetic drugs are now a major problem in the state and this won't be the last case.
A sentencing date hasn't been set. Kohl faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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