Guilty Plea in Wesleyan 'Molly' Overdose Case

Former Wesleyan student Zachary Kramer, 22, of Bethesda, Md., pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, MDMA, otherwise known as ‘Molly.’

The charge stems from an investigation into the distribution of controlled substances that caused multiple Wesleyan University students to overdose in February of this year, according to Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

The Purchase and Re-Selling of ‘Molly’

According to court documents and statements made in court, in approximately September 2014, Kramer, who was a student at Wesleyan in Middletown, Conn., began purchasing and reselling a substance he knew as ’Molly’ and which he believed to be ecstasy or MDMA, a Schedule I controlled substance.

After obtaining bulk quantities of the drug from another student, Kramer sold it in smaller quantities to students at Wesleyan.

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The Primary Supplier of ‘Molly’

In approximately December 2014, Kramer became the primary supplier of MDMA at Wesleyan. He would typically sell the MDMA in 0.1 gram quantities for $20 each or he would sell it in 5-gram and 10-gram quantities for a discount, charging $100 or more, depending on the customer and the quantity, according to court documents.

During this time period, Kramer was still supplied by the same individual who provided him the MDMA in bulk quantities. In approximately January 2015, Kramer purchased approximately 45 grams of MDMA from this supplier.

He broke that quantity into five and 10-gram bags and distributed those bags to other students who planned to break down the MDMA into 0.1 gram capsules, sell those capsules to other Wesleyan students, and pay Kramer for the quantity of the drug he had provided to them, Daly said in a prepared statement.

11 People Overdosed; One Died and Was Revived

On Feb. 21, 11 people, including 10 Wesleyan students, overdosed on a substance they believed was MDMA, and many were transported to the hospital. Two of the students were in critical condition, and one of the students had to be revived after his heart stopped.

Eleven of these students obtained the purported MDMA through individual distributers who were supplied directly by Kramer, according to Daly.

Although Kramer and some of his distributers destroyed the substance identified as ‘Molly’ that they had in their possession, one of the distributers did not, and that substance was seized by law enforcement officers and sent to the toxicology laboratory for testing. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the powdered substance contained AB Fubinaca, a Schedule I controlled substance.

Maximum 20-Year Prison Term; Max Fine of $1 Million

The charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, MDMA carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum fine of $1 million. Kramer is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on February 10, 2016, in Hartford.

He has been released on bond since his federal arrest on May 22, 2015.

Photo of Zachary Kramer via Middletown Police, Patch archives