N.Y. AG files motion against synthetic drug manufacturer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has announced the filing of a motion seeking penalties and fines against a company for allegedly marketing synthetic drugs.

Schneiderman alleges that Twisted Headz LLC and Gary Schiffer are in civil and criminal contempt of a prior court order for creating and marketing the synthetic drug "Xtreme Rampage." The motion seeks penalties and fines against Twisted Headz and jail time for Schiffer.

The drug is allegedly prepared and packaged by Schiffer for wholesale and retail sale in violation of a previous court order that bars him from selling mislabeled and misbranded synthetic drugs.

"This is blatantly illegal drug manufacturing and dealing that flies in the face of a previous court order, and it will not be tolerated," Schneiderman said. "We have seen the devastation caused by synthetic drug abuse, and my office will continue to prosecute those who pollute our communities with dangerous designer drugs."

Schiffer allegedly told an undercover DEA agent that 1.5 gram packages of Xtreme Rampage cost $.75 to make and sold for $5 - a 600 percent profit. DEA agents seized a total of 2,931 packages of the substance from a tub in Schiffer's SUV, and Schiffer said that he had hundreds of thousands of packages available.

Xtreme Rampage is allegedly produced by spraying a chemical that Schiffer purchased from out-of-state onto marshmallow leaves. The mixture is then combined with acetone before it is dried and packaged in small foil envelopes. The marijuana-like effects of the mixture can be changed by varying the amount of the acetone/chemical mix, Schiffer alleged.

The manufacture of the synthetic drug is a direct violation of law as well as of a state supreme court order issued in September.

Twisted Headz faced a previous lawsuit in July following the discovery of mislabeled products. The state supreme court then issued a temporary restraining order against the company and a consent order was secured on Sept. 20 to enjoin Schiffer and Twisted Headz from selling any mislabeled or misbranded products, including street drug alternatives or synthetic drugs.

Schneiderman's newest action seeks a court order to hold Schiffer and Twisted Headz in civil and criminal contempt for violations of the September consent order. The state is seeking civil and criminal fines and penalties, as well as jail time for Schiffer.