Father, son federally charged in connection to death of Ole Miss student

Suspected kratom derivatives were found in the student's room, police said.

Father, son face federal charges in connection to overdose death of Ole Miss studentA father and son who worked at a smoke shop are now facing federal charges for intent to distribute controlled substances in connection to the death of Ole Miss freshman Aidan Hamilton.

A father and son who worked at a Mississippi smoke shop were charged by federal prosecutors in connection with one of the two Ole Miss student deaths that took place last week.

U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary for the Northern District of Mississippi announced Friday that a criminal complaint was filed against Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Yahya Mosleh, 18, on charges with possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances in connection with the death of Aidan Hamilton.

The father and son, who were arrested last week, worked at the smoke shop that allegedly sold illegal substances to Hamilton, investigators allege.

Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colorado, was found dead on campus on Sept. 21, and investigators found "packages, some with missing tablets, of suspected kratom derivatives," according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Ole Miss deaths may be connected to 2 stores allegedly selling kratom products: Officials
"The cause of death appeared to be consistent with a drug overdose," the U.S. attorney's office said.

An hour later, a second Ole Miss student, Robert Strang, a junior from Atlanta, was found dead in a different location, and investigators also found "packages of suspected kratom derivatives," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Strang's death was also consistent with a drug overdose, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Robert Strang, from Atlanta, was in his junior year at Ole Miss. | Aiden Hamilton, from Colorado, was in his freshman year at Ole Miss.Kratom products contain chemicals that can increase alertness, physical energy, and talkativeness. At higher doses, users may experience sedating effects.

The FDA has warned that kratom and especially concentrated synthetic 7-OH products can carry risks, including addiction, mental health concerns and other serious adverse effects.

Some jurisdictions in the country have banned the sale of kratom. Oxford, Mississippi, has banned the sale, possession and consumption of Kratom since 2019.
Advocates have called on the Food and Drug Administration for stricter regulations on the products and bans.

Toxicology reports on both deaths are still ongoing, according to investigators.

The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit was able to track Hamilton's bank records and found that he made several purchases from Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford, Mississippi, the federal criminal complaint said.