Slidell Man, Christopher Buelle, Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Commit Import Violations And For Violating Fda Laws By Mislabelling And Distributing Bath Salts And Synthetic Marijuana And Attempting To Violate The Controlled Substances Act

CHRISTOPHER BUELLE, age 25, a resident of Slidell, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to a two-count superseding bill of information charging him with conspiring to commit import violations and to violate the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by mislabeling and distributing bath salts and synthetic marijuana and attempting to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, announced
U. S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.

According to court documents, beginning in the first half of 2010 and continuing through about December 2011, BUELLE conspired with co-defendants, Cody Beaudette, Christopher Buelle, and C Square, L.L.C., a Slidell-based company, which BUELLE co-owned with Beaudette, to knowingly receive, buy, and sell bath salts and synthetic marijuana imported into the United States from China contrary to law, specifically causing the introduction and delivery of  drugs that are adulterated and misbranded under Federal law.  C Square, L.L.C.’s brands included “ZeRo GrAviTy”, “iAroma”, and “Primo,” among others.  BUELLE also admitted to attempting to possess with intent to distribute 495 grams of marijuana in Slidell.

For each count, BUELLE faces a maximum statutory penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release of up to three (3) years, and a $250,000.00 fine.  Sentencing has been scheduled for October 31, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. 

The case was investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Office of Criminal Investigations with the assistance of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Slidell Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Weir.

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