Albion man sentenced to 4 years in prison for importing synthetic drugs

Staff Reports Posted 23 March 2016 at 12:00 am

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced today that Donald Stirk, 36, of Albion was sentenced to 48 months in prison for importing αPVP into the United States.

Stirk could have faced up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank T. Pimentel, who handled the case, stated that on March 5, 2015, Customs and Border Protection officers in Memphis, Tenn. conducted a routine inspection of a package mailed from China and addressed to the defendant in Albion.

The inspection revealed that the package contained αPVP (sometimes known as “flakka”), a Schedule I controlled substance. On March 13, 2015, law enforcement officers inspected another package from China addressed to “Donald Starks” at the Albion Post Office, which again revealed αPVP.

Subsequent investigation revealed more such packages at the Albion Post Office. On April 15, 2015, officers performed a controlled delivery of several of the packages to the defendant at his Albion residence and then executed a search warrant at the residence revealing an additional quantity of αPVP.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.