Shelton Man Accused Of Trafficking Narcotics Sentenced To Prison: Feds

SHELTON, CT — A Shelton man accused of trafficking narcotics and laundering the proceeds was sentenced to prison Friday in Virginia, according to court officials.

In a news release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said Hatem Salem, 56, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to import GBL with intent to manufacture GHB and concealment money laundering.

According to the release, investigators learned in May 2024 that Salem was importing quantities of GBL, a precursor for the "date-rape drug" GHB, into Virginia from China.

From August 2024 through January 2025, officers conducted five controlled purchases of various controlled substances from Salem, including cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and over 100 grams of meth, according to the release.

On Jan. 30, investigators searched Salem's home in Shelton and found 151 grams of meth, 626 grams of cocaine, various quantities of Ketamine, MDMA and LSD, bottles containing GBL and GHB and 157 boxes containing nearly 1,200 liters of suspected GBL in the basement, according to the release.

As part of his guilty plea, Salem admitted that over 2,000 liters of GBL was involved in the importation conspiracy. Investigators also discovered a clandestine lab in Salem's shed that contained substances and equipment for manufacturing GHB, according to the release.

A financial investigation revealed Salem used various methods, such as convoluted transactions between business and personal bank accounts, to conceal or disguise the proceeds from his drug conspiracy, according to the release.

Investigators seized assets constituting proceeds of Salem's drug trafficking conspiracy and property involved in money laundering, including approximately $370,000 in cash and $171,500 in cryptocurrency, according to the release.

Salem has several prior federal narcotics-related convictions. In 1999, he was convicted for conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids, distribution of anabolic steroids and making false statements, according to the release.

In 2005, Salem was convicted for distribution of GBL and GHB while he was on probation for his 1999 conviction.

In 2015, Salem was convicted for unlawful importation of GBL with intent to manufacture GHB, according to the release.