United States of America v. Alen Addison and Minus Tyler

Brunswick, Georgia criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a substituted cathinone, in violation of 21 U.S.C. 846.

From April 2023 through August 2023, Alen Addison, 54, of Brunswick, Georgia and Minus Tyler, 45, of Brunswick, conspired to distribute cathinone in Glynn County. The two defendants utilized Facebook Messenger as a method to communicate the sale and distribution of cathinone.

Synthetic cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring compound cathinone, the main psychoactive ingredient in the khat plant Catha edulis. Like amphetamines, synthetic cathinones are psychomotor stimulants that exert their effects by impairing normal brain functions. Overall, a National Library of Medicine study of the Neuropharmacology of Synthetic Cathinones shows that certain synthetic cathinones are powerful drugs of abuse that could pose significant risk to users.

Addison was found guilty and was sentenced to 82 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release.

Tyler was sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.