A California man, Paul Z. Lamberty, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his involvement in selling the illegal depressant Etizolam over the internet. The sentencing took place on May 30, 2025, in a federal court in Boston, following Lamberty’s guilty plea in August 2024 to charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and introducing misbranded drugs with intent to defraud and mislead.
Lamberty operated two websites, Encern.com and Ohmod.com, which facilitated the sale of Etizolam across the United States, including Massachusetts. Transactions were conducted exclusively through cryptocurrency, and shipments were made via U.S. Priority Mail. Notably, Encern.com lacked corporate records in California and did not list a physical business address.
The FDA had not approved Etizolam for use as a drug within the United States. Despite this prohibition, Lamberty sourced drugs from China and sold them domestically under misleading labels indicating they were “For Research Purposes Only” and “Not for Human Consumption.” Analysis of financial records revealed that Lamberty and his co-conspirator amassed over $550,000 in sales through these online platforms.
Tragically, a customer from Massachusetts who purchased Etizolam from Lamberty’s website died after ingesting the substance. This incident was highlighted in court documents detailing the risks associated with thienodiazepines like Etizolam—drugs chemically akin to benzodiazepines that can lead to dependency or fatal overdose when mixed with other central nervous system depressants.
In July 2023, the DEA temporarily classified Etizolam as a Schedule I controlled substance due to its potential dangers.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Lauren A. Graber of the Criminal Division. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Fernando P. McMillan of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations; and Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
