Federal prosecutors have charged a store clerk and his son with selling an illegal kratom product as part of an investigation into the deaths of two University of Mississippi students, authorities announced Friday.
Charges and defendants: Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and his 18-year-old son, Islam Yahya Mosleh, each face one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The charges stem from an investigation into the deaths of Aidan Hamilton and a second student, whose identities have not been publicly disclosed. The students died on September 21, and toxicology reports are pending, according to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves.
Store purchases and investigation details: Bank records show Hamilton made multiple purchases from Oxford Tobacco & Vape, a store in Oxford, Mississippi, where the university is located, in the weeks leading up to his death. On September 24, an informant purchased kratom-based pills from Yahya Mosleh, who allegedly warned the informant to “be careful taking the pills because people were dying from them,” according to a DEA affidavit. Lafayette County Metro Narcotics confirmed the investigation remains active, with the possibility of additional charges.
Kratom’s legal status and context: Kratom, derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia, is legal at the federal level but has faced scrutiny in some states and localities. A Mississippi drug task force previously urged people to avoid kratom after packages of kratom derivatives were found during the investigation. Federal prosecutors stated the students’ deaths appear consistent with drug overdoses, though it remains unclear whether kratom contributed.
Court proceedings: The defendants appeared before a magistrate judge Thursday, who ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges. Attorneys for both Moslehs declined to comment, and no further details about their defense have been released.
The investigation is being conducted by federal and local authorities, including the DEA and Lafayette County Metro Narcotics, with state agencies expediting toxicology reports. Additional developments are expected as the case progresses.