BANGOR, Maine — A local man described by a federal prosecutor as a mid-level bath salts dealer was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court to 7½ years in prison.
Adam Hathorn, 36, of Bangor was part of a drug ring that sold bath salts, also called “monkey dust,” which is known to cause paranoia and bizarre behavior, in Penobscot, Washington and Aroostook counties.
Hathorn pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute MDPV, the chemical name of bath salts. By pleading guilty, Hathorn admitted that he sold the drug out of a camper parked in a Bangor neighborhood. “People would stand in line outside the camper to buy their bath salts,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Casey told U.S. District Judge John Woodcock.
Between April 1 and Dec. 21, 2011, Hathorn distributed 1,843 grams of the drug, the prosecutor said. That is about 65 ounces, or, slightly more than four pounds.
“During the 274 days of the conspiracy, this defendant sold 67 ingestations of bath salts a day,” Casey said. “That is a staggering amount of drugs.”
Woodcock agreed.
“Bath salts hit this community like a tidal wave in 2011,” Woodcock said in imposing the sentence. “For the families of the users I have seen in this courtroom, you were the devil himself.”
Defense attorney Stephen Smith of Augusta said that he saw first hand the paranoia and bizarre behavior exhibited by bath salts users when he first met Hathorn. Smith recommended a sentence of five years and 10 months because of the changes Hathorn has made while awaiting sentence.
Hathorn, who has a 26-year-long history of drug abuse, tearfully apologized just prior to being sentenced.
“I apologize to my God, my family, this court and my community,” he said. “In three short years, bath salts took over my life. I owe it to God, my family and my community to turn my life around.”
Hathorn, who has worked at local restaurants as a cook, said that he would like to “help others get sober” when he is released.
In addition to prison time, the judge sentenced Hathorn to three years of supervised release.
Hathorn is one of 18 Bangor-area residents or former residents charged in the drug ring, according to Casey.
Jessica Bryden, 22, of Greenbush and Daniel Hines, 38, of Bangor were sentenced Wednesday for their roles in the conspiracy. She was sentenced to eight years and one month and he received a sentence of five years and 10 months. Both were sentenced to three years of supervised release.
All the defendants have pleaded guilty to at least one charge, according to Casey. About half still are awaiting sentencing.
Hathorn, Bryden and Hines faced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.