HARRISBURG - A Ranshaw man wanted in connection with the alleged operation of a drug ring involving "bath salts" and synthetic pot has turned himself in to authorities.
Slimane Belabbas, 34, turned himself in Thursday to authorities in Mifflin County. He pleaded "not guilty" to charges he participated in the drug ring through Mount Royal Mini-Mart, a Sunoco station in Ranshaw, and was granted supervised release without bond.
Belabbas, a co-operator of the mini-mart, Jaswinder Fatra, 41, also of Ranshaw, and six other men were indicted last month by a grand jury on accusations they trafficked synthetic drugs at multiple mini-marts in Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Mifflin and Lancaster counties.
Fatra also pleaded not guilty and was granted supervised release.
While Northumberland County was not listed, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith confirmed that a November raid at the Ranshaw convenience store was associated with the indictment.
The indictment was unsealed by a federal judge on April 24. It was returned by the grand jury April 4, but
kept sealed to allow simultaneous arrests.
Belabbas was the lone suspect still at large when the charges were announced last week.
Federal authorities allege the eight men sold Methcathinone and MDPV, known as "bath salts" and "jewelry cleaner," between May 2011 and March 2012. They're also alleged to have sold synthetic marijuana under names such as Captain Fly, Tigers Blood, Bangkok Chill and Kryptonite Krush.
All are charged with the alleged unlawful distribution of controlled substances, use of a communication facility to carry out that offense, criminal conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distributing and conspiring to distribute misbranded drugs in central Pennsylvania.
A trial date of June 4 is scheduled for all eight defendants in U.S. Middle District Court before Chief Judge Yvette Kane. Pretrial motions are due later this month.
The defendants face a maximum of 52 years imprisonment and fines up to $2.75 million, along with the forfeiture of $1 million combined.