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SCRANTON — A Pittston man pleaded guilty on Thursday to participating in a conspiracy to distribute bath salts.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that David Popish, 38, pleaded guilty on Thursday before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley.
According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Popish admitted to conspiring with others to distribute the drug to customers in the Luzerne County area during 2014 and 2015.
Popish was one of seven people charged by a grand jury in August 2016, according to a news release. That indictment was the fourth wave of arrests connected to the distribution of alpha-pvp, also known as “bath salts,” in Luzerne County.
A total of 18 people have been charged in the case since July 2013, including the Texas-based principal supplier of the bath salts.
Officials said Popish is the twelfth defendant to plead guilty in the case.
Munley ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed and scheduled sentencing in the case for April 27.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and police from Luzerne County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.