Two University of Mississippi students are dead after buying illegal pills. Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found unresponsive on Sept. 21. A federal court heard the details of their deaths this Friday. The toxicology reports show they had dangerous synthetic compounds in their systems. These pills were sold at a local shop in Oxford.
Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and 7-OH were present in both victims. These are the same compounds found in the deadly SMAX Pseudo-DHM pills. Authorities say the Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer store sold Hamilton the pills twice. Strang bought a similar dangerous product from another shop nearby. The Drug Enforcement Administration just banned these compounds as Schedule I substances in August. That makes it illegal to buy or sell them now.
Yahya Mosleh, 51, and his son Islam, 18, worked at the store. An undercover agent went in on Sept. 24 to buy 7-OH kratom pills. Yahya unlocked a drawer under the register to show the agent the pills. The complaint says Yahya warned the agent about the risks.
“[Yahya] told the informant to be careful taking these pills because people were dying from them,”
the complaint reads. Agents returned with a warrant and seized over 500 units of kratom. They also found THC cartridges and gummies.
Yahya Mosleh remains in jail while his son Islam posted bond. Islam was granted a $20,000 conditional bond and will be released soon. Federal prosecutors told the court this is not an isolated event.
“This case comes from several tragic overdose cases of students here in Oxford,”
federal prosecutors said in court, according to the New York Post. They argued that the evidence supports keeping Yahya behind bars.
Detention is supported by evidence, as victims died from conditions consistent to overdoses.
A defense attorney for one of the men shared the specific causes of death. One student died from using various substances like cough syrup together. The other died from inhalation asphyxiation. The store owner, Amer Alowdi, was already indicted for trafficking narcotics in 2022. He is accused of fleeing the United States before he could be prosecuted.
The case highlights how fast these synthetic drugs can kill young people. The DEA acted quickly in August to ban the specific chemicals found in the pills. Before that ban, these substances were sold openly in smoke shops. Now, the men working at the shop face serious federal charges. The court documents show the agents found the pills right under the counter. The warning from the seller did not stop the sales or the deaths.
Yahya Mosleh will stay in custody as the legal process moves forward. His son Islam is out on bond but must follow strict conditions. The families of the two students are waiting for answers in court. The toxicology reports confirm the presence of multiple synthetic compounds. These facts are now part of the public record in the Northern District of Mississippi.
