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Augusta, Georgia - Conway James Rhinehart, 43, from Hephzibah, has been sentenced to 108 months in prison following his guilty plea to charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in relation to his operation of a mail-order business dealing in illegal synthetic drugs.

Key Points

• Rhinehart's charges involved the distribution of a-PHP, a synthetic cannabinoid, and Eutylone, often referred to as "bath salts."
• The investigation, which began in 2020, involved authorities seizing packages from various overseas locations addressed to Rhinehart under multiple aliases. These packages contained a-PHP and Eutylone.
• Rhinehart marketed these substances as "energy powders" or "energy crystals" on his website and distributed them nationwide.
• He was indicted in June 2022 and, despite being released on bond, was re-arrested for attempting to continue his mail-order drug business.
• Rhinehart entered a guilty plea in September 2023, and along with prison, he will be required to forfeit $50,000 in seized proceeds and undergo three years of supervised release. The federal system does not allow for parole.