Former Cranston Coach, Porn Store Owner, Charged with Distributing Bath Salts by Feds

The owner of a Cranston smoke shop and adult video store in West Warwick and former coach for Cranston League for Cranston's Future, appeared in Federal Court this morning on a federal criminal complaint charging him with possessing synthetic drugs with the intent to distribute.

The arrest follows a year-long investigation into the alleged sale of bath salts at Glen Lonardo's Cranston and West Warwick businesses.

Glen Lonardo, 48, the owner of X-Citement Video on Quaker Lane in West Warwick, and Buddha's Bazaar on Cranston Street in Cranston, was also a board member of Cranston League for Cranston's Future and president of the CLCF Chiefs, a football and cheerleading league for children in grades 4 through 8. He also headed the CLCF Girls Softball league.

Lonardo is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of: a-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone (a-PVP), an analog of methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDV), a Schedule I controlled substance, commonly referred to as “bath salts.” Bath salts is a generic term applied to a variety of chemical substances sold under various names for purported use as bath salts, glass cleaner, or incense (among other things) but which is being consumed, smoked or injected by drug addicts to get high. The various chemical substances are often scheduled drugs or analogues of scheduled drugs.

Court records show Lonardo allegedly delivered synthetic cathinones — a schedule I controlled substance — to a West Warwick detective on Jan. 17. The drug, identified as Alpha-PVP, is one of several variants of what more commonly is referred to as bath salts.

According to an affidavit filed with the court, Cranston Police began an investigation into the alleged distribution and use of “bath salts’’ in the early spring and summer of 2013, after receiving numerous complaints of apparent drug overdoses and erratic behavior in the general vicinity of Buddha’s Bazaar. The investigation, including surveillance of the area and alleged undercover purchases of bath salts called “Nuke” from Buddah’s Bazaar, resulted in a federal court authorized search of the business in August 2013. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized nearly 200 packets and bags of bath salts, some labeled Nuke, Krush, Frenzy and Blast.

According to the affidavit, following the execution of the search warrant at Buddha’s Bazaar, the investigation into the alleged sale of bath salts was expanded to include Lonardo’s West Warwick business, XCitement Video and Smoke Shop. The investigation allegedly included numerous undercover purchases of bath salts by West Warwick Police.

According to the affidavit, on January 17, 2014, West Warwick Police responded to a reported breaking and entering at XCitement Video and Smoke Shop. While processing the alleged burglary, West Warwick Police allegedly came across numerous packages labeled “Nuke.” West Warwick Police applied for, received and then executed a court authorized search warrant for XCitement Video and Smoke Shop. Additional bath salts were allegedly seized during the search and Lonardo was arrested on state drug charges.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Lonardo was released on $10,000 unsecured bond following his initial appearance in U.S. District Court.

Possession with the intent to distribute a mixture containing a detectable amount of a Schedule I controlled substance is punishable by a statutory penalty up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.  

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.

Lonardo resigned from his position with CLCF shortly after his January arrest.