A Miami resident, Terrell Jermaine Williams, pleaded guilty on Mar. 11 to drug-trafficking offenses involving the importation of N-Isopropyl Butylone, a Schedule I synthetic cathinone, from China into the United States for distribution in South Florida.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the trafficking of synthetic drugs and their impact on public safety. Synthetic cathinones, often known as “bath salts” or “flakka,” are considered powerful and unpredictable stimulants that pose significant risks to communities.
According to court documents, Williams conspired with a distributor based in China between 2022 and 2025 to bring controlled substances into Miami. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida said, “This defendant worked with a supplier overseas to bring a dangerous synthetic drug into South Florida and profit from its distribution.” He added, “Synthetic cathinones—often referred to on the street as ‘bath salts’ or ‘flakka’—are powerful and unpredictable stimulants that pose a serious threat to public safety. Our Office will continue working with the Homeland Security Task Force and our federal, local, and international partners to stop these trafficking pipelines and prevent dangerous narcotics from reaching our communities.”
Williams communicated with his Chinese supplier through a mobile messaging platform. In November 2023, the distributor encouraged him to stock up before the substance was banned so he could charge higher prices later. In April 2024, the distributor warned Williams about increased scrutiny during an election year in the United States regarding firearms and drugs coming from China.
Information gathered during the investigation was shared with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Guangzhou in China. This led Chinese authorities to seize approximately 700 kilograms of N-Isopropyl Butylone believed destined for the U.S., even though it was not yet regulated in China at that time. Following this seizure, Chinese officials determined there was no legitimate use for N-Isopropyl Butylone and placed it under regulatory control.
Williams faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count related to conspiracy to import and distribute N-Isopropyl Butylone. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering relevant guidelines.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones along with Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of HSI Miami and Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division. The case is being investigated by HSI Miami, HSI Guangzhou, USPIS, and Homestead Police Department with assistance from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and City of Miami Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting this case as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159.
