Commercial pilot sentenced for drug-masking powder

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A federal judge in Pittsburgh says a former airline pilot will spend nine months in prison for selling a powdered drink mix meant to help truck drivers, pilots and train engineers pass federal drug tests.

U.S. District Judge David Cercone rejected a request for probation by Stephen Sharp, of Port Orange, Fla., during today’s sentencing hearing. The judge scolded Sharp for not considering “the magnitude of the potential harm” of his actions.

Sharp was a pilot for PSA Airlines when he ran the website www.yourintheclear.com from November 2006 through May 2008. He has since lost his job.

Sharp pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to defraud the federal government because his product was designed to defeat federal drug tests.