2 Students Plead Not Guilty in Rave-Related LSD Sales

Two USC seniors who allegedly sold thousands of doses of the hallucinogenic drug LSD to undercover narcotics agents pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug charges.

The students, Hugh McLetchie and Rita Wadhwani, both 21, made their pleas during a federal court arraignment on nine drug counts, including selling drugs within 1,000 feet of a playground, which could result in a stiffer punishment if they are convicted.

A trial date was set for Nov. 2.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Christopher Johnson said the two are accused of selling 11,200 doses of LSD to undercover agents on four or five separate occasions between February and early September, when McLetchie was arrested.

Authorities said McLetchie, a drama major from Walpole, Mass., admitted after his arrest Sept. 2 that he sold LSD-laced snow cones to teenagers at an all-night rave concert in Angeles National Forest last month.

Undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents said they secretly tape-recorded McLetchie in his Pasadena apartment boasting of having sold snow cones to five San Bernardino-area teenagers who later died when their car plunged over a cliff as they left the rave party.

It was not clear how McLetchie knew he had sold LSD to the five youths, given the presence of more than 5,000 people at the event. Prosecutors said toxicological studies are being conducted to determine the cause of the Aug. 29 crash, and whether the victims were under the influence of drugs. McLetchie has not been charged in their deaths.

Wadhwani, a literature major from Chicago, is accused of brokering drug deals with undercover agents and McLetchie. The two shared a Pasadena apartment that was located within 1,000 feet of a school playground. Authorities said McLetchie bought LSD from a supplier. He and Wadhwani allegedly sold it, splitting the proceeds, prosecutors said.

Wadhwani is free on bond. McLetchie is being held without bail.

Outside court, Barbara McLetchie defended her son. “We love or son, we believe in him,” she said. “He had nothing to do with the five deaths. He just made an outrageous statement to a friend.”