Gonic couple's trial in bath salts case set for next month

A purported legal Scooby Snax potpourri is still being sold today. (Courtesy image)

DOVER, N.H. - A Gonic couple face a June trial for allegedly selling synthetic drugs like bath salts at a Rochester convenience store in 2014.

Vipul and Priya Patel, who worked at Jay's Discount & Tobacco on Wakefield Street, were both indicted in November 2014 in connection with possessing and selling the drugs earlier in the year.

Both face class B felony drug possession charges, which could land them in state prison for up to 14 years.

Priya Patel, who worked at the store, stands charged with two felonies: sale of a controlled drug and felony possession of ab-fubinaca, an ingredient in synthetic cannabis blends like bath salts. It is designated a Schedule 1 prohibited drug in the United States.

Vipul Patel, her husband, was manager of the store, Assistant County Attorney Tim Sullivan said on Thursday.

Vipul Patel also faces two felonies in connection with sale and possession of ab-fubinaca.

A state lab confirmed that a package of Scooby Snax potpourri being sold at the store contained the illegal ingredient.

Vipul also faces two misdemeanors for selling tadalafil and sildenafil, substances used in the production of Cialis and Viagra, respectively, as male enhancement products.

Sullivan said they were packaged like Viagra.

The couple's final pretrial conference was on Wednesday when trial dates of either June 7 or 13 were set. Both are expected to last three or four days and will be separate.

Meanwhile, a purported legal blend of Scooby Snax Potpourri is still being sold online today.

Many such designer, synthetic drugs are generically called bath salts, which when used to get high are snorted, eaten, smoked or injected.

A recent bad batch going around in Milton is suspected of having been cut with formaldehyde and has caused severe feelings of paranoia and hallucinations, requiring medical intervention and treatment, Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss said last week.