Feds arrest pair in Newton Falls on drug-dealing indictments

Staff report

NEWTON FALLS

Agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation unit arrested a Newton Falls man and a Ravenna woman early Wednesday at a house on Church Street, where authorities believe they distributed illegal, synthetic drugs known as bath salts.

The raid followed federal indictments for the pair, Ryan Kralik, 32, of 31 Church St., and Ruth Eimers, 36, of Ravenna. Kralik and Eimers both had addresses in Kent in 2011, according to Portage County court records.

Kralik and Eimers owned and operated a website — freshsalts.com — out of the Church Street residence from which they sold 10 to 15 types of bath salts ranging in price from $29 to $59. Customers also purchased bulk amounts for between $299 and $459, according to the indictment.

The bath salts were offered for sale with names similar to slang terms for cocaine and heroin, such as “Eightballz Extreme,” “Faux-Caine” and “Zombie Girls Extra Strength,” among others, the indictment said.

“People continue to come up with new ways to poison our children, as long as they think there is money to be made,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “These are very dangerous synthetic drugs that have nothing to do with baths or salt and everything to do with risky behavior.”

The Portage County Sheriff’s office and Portage County Drug Task Force worked on the investigation with federal officials.

Customers who purchased bath salts from the website were required to pay with money orders or cashier’s checks to R.M. Kralik, Western Union wire transfer to “Ryan Kralik” in Warren, or by cash sent to “FGS” to a P.O. box in Diamond, according to the indictment. Eimers assisted Kralik with distribution, shipments and bookkeeping, the indictment says.

Their charges include conspiracy to possess the drug with intent to distribute, use of the Internet for a controlled-substance offense, distribution of bath salts and importation of bath salts from China.