O.C. Man Convicted of Selling Banned Drug GHB in Mails
A 46-year-old Anaheim man was convicted of conspiracy to illegally distribute the drug GHB, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Lance Crews Griffin was found guilty of obtaining large quantities of GHB, also known as hydroxy butyrate from outside the state, then putting it into capsules. Through a company called Omniopathy Products, prosecutors maintained, Griffin set up an 800 telephone number to receive orders for the drug.
GHB is an illegal drug used as a sleeping aid. It is also used in body building and for weight control. Negative side effects can include severe stomach pain, seizure-like symptoms, vomiting, dizziness and coma, among other symptoms.
According to Assistant U.S. Dist. Atty. Charles L. Kreindler Griffin devised two different kinds of labels for the drug alternately describing the substance as “Natural Sleep-500” and “Oxy-Sleep.”
Prosecutors said Griffin also maintained a mail drop in Anaheim to receive correspondence addressed to Omniopathy Products. The offense was treated as a federal crime because Griffin allegedly used the U.S. mail and the Postal Service to send the drug to his customers.
Griffin faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 7.
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