News
Man Allegedly Sold 100 LSD Doses to Confidential Informant
By: Susan Tebben | The Athens Messenger
Posted on:
An Athens man was arrested Friday after he allegedly sold drugs, including 100 doses of suspected LSD, to a confidential informant for the Athens Major Crimes Unit.
Benjamin P. Finkel, 21, was charged with trafficking in LSD, trafficking in marijuana and possession of LSD, all felonies of varying degrees, according to a news release by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office.
Finkel was arrested after he allegedly made a sale to a confidential informant, which was “purported to be marijuana and approximately 100 unit doses of LSD in liquid form,” the release stated.
Finkel was arrested prior to a search warrant was served at an apartment at 46 N. Lancaster St. Investigators allegedly found suspected LSD in liquid and “blotter paper” form, along with suspected marijuana, prescription drugs and hash oil, a derivative of marijuana.
“In all, more than 200 unit doses of suspected LSD in both liquid and ‘blotter paper’ form were recovered with the combined controlled buy and the search warrant,” Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith stated in the news release. “Cash in the amount of $7,626, some of which was evidence from the controlled buy, was also recovered.”
“This event was part of a long term investigation into illegal drug trafficking in both Athens and Washington County,” according to the news release.
Acting Athens County Sheriff Rodney Smith said the investigation has been going on more than two months.
The trafficking allegedly happened within 1,000 feet of the Athens Middle School. The charges are elevated when a crime occurs within 1,000 feet of a school zone.
Finkel may face other charges related to the incident, as the investigation is ongoing, the release stated.
He was arraigned in Athens Municipal Court on Monday, where a $25,000 bond was set with 10 percent allowed. The bond for his release was cosigned by his parents, according to court clerk’s office.
A preliminary hearing was set for March 11.
The Washington County Major Crimes Task Force assisted with the investigation, the controlled buy and the search warrant, the release stated.