Monroe County Man Charged With Possessing GBL

     The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 32-year-old East Stroudsburg resident was charged today with unlawfully possessing gamma butyrolactone (GBL), a controlled substance analogue.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, his office filed a criminal Information today against Michael Koepfler for possessing GBL, which has a similar chemical composition to, and has the same effect on humans who ingest it, as GHB.

     The charge against Koepfler stems from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigators. It is alleged that Koepfler possessed the substance in April 2011.

     The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis
P. Sempa.

     Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

     A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

     In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is one year imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.