PORTLAND, Maine — A Westbrook man was sentenced to six years for planning to distribute bath salts and trying to cover up evidence after his arrest, according to federal prosecutors.
Christopher Coombs, 44, pleaded guilty in November 2015 to charges of possessing with intent to distribute bath salts, obstruction of justice and violation of bail conditions.
U.S. Attorney Thomas Delahanty announced the results of Tuesday’s sentencing at U.S. District Court in a news release.
In October 2014, law enforcement conducted a “controlled delivery” of 500 grams of alpha-PHP — a form of bath salts — to Coombs’ Westbrook address, according to court records. Coombs had ordered the package from China, but it was intercepted by New York customs officials.
Police arrested Coombs when he accepted the package. Coombs was under supervised release, stemming from a 2009 drug trafficking conviction, at the time of the sting.
After his release, police say Coombs told his wife to delete emails related to the investigation. That resulted in the obstruction of justice charge.
Coombs could have received up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the drug charge, up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine on the obstruction charge, and up to three years for violating supervised release.
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