Wesleyan Athlete Pleads Guilty to Distributing Overdose-Causing Drug

On October 31, 2015, the Wesleyan University Department of Public Safety responded to an emergency call from a campus dorm room and found a male student in severe medical distress.

"The victim was convulsing and struggling to breathe, and his body temperature was significantly elevated," according to a prepared statement from Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England. "The victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he spent several days recovering."

Salem, Mass. resident Ryan Welch, 22, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty Tuesday, March 8, to distributing a synthetic hallucinogenic drug at Wesleyan University.

'Near Fatal Overdose'

“Federal law enforcement once again finds itself on a university campus, investigating the broad distribution of a synthetic hallucinogen that nearly caused the fatal overdose of a college student,” said Daly. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work closely with DEA and our state and local partners to actively investigate drug overdoses across Connecticut."

The investigation revealed that the victim had ingested 2C-B and that Welch was the source of the 2C-B the victim ingested.

Daly said identifying the source and makeup of the drugs that cause overdoses and then remove them from the streets is a priority. Also of importance is prosecuting responsible parties for the illegal distribution.

"Too many young people believe synthetic drugs are harmless party drugs when, as this case makes abundantly clear, they are highly dangerous," she said.

Welch, a member of Wesleyan’s football team, had distributed 2C-B to between 15 and 20 other members of the team during the 2015 season. Court reports indicate he distributed the drug in liquid form, mixing it in a water bottle with a non-alcoholic drink.

Later, he distributed it in powder form, in clear capsules. Some teammates referred to the 2C-B distributed by Welch as “Welchie’s drug” or “Welchie’s special," Daly said. Certain players paid Welch approximately $10 for each single-dose capsule. He reportedly purchased the synthetic drug on the Dark Web using Bitcoin.

Welch was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on January 21, 2016. He pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of 2C-E and 2C-B, both Schedule I controlled substances, also known as hallucinogens.

The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $1 million. Welch was released on a $100,000 bond.