A Springfield man has been arrested and charged with multiple drug offenses after receiving a large delivery of a chemical commonly used to synthesize gamma-hydroxybutyric acid – better known as the club drug GHB – at his home, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.
Kurt Romondt, 44, a senior scientist at Merck, is charged with first-degree maintaining a controlled dangerous substance production facility, second-degree possession of GHB with the intent to distribute, and a related third-degree drug charge.
Romondt was arrested at his home Thursday afternoon as the result of a joint operation.
Following a search of the home, a package containing 2,745 grams of gamma-butyrolactone (used to synthesize GHB), approximately 300 milliliters of GHB, a scale, and materials used to process and produce the drug were seized.
GHB is a naturally occurring substance that can also be produced chemically and has multiple methods of usage as an illegal recreational drug, depending on the dosage – small amounts, for instance, can act as a stimulant and produce euphoric effects, while larger amounts are used by athletes to stimulate the production of human growth hormone in the body.
GHB also has been labeled a date-rape drug due to its rapid-onset sedative effects when administered in larger quantities.
Romondt’s bail was set at $200,000 by state Superior Court JudgeRobert J. Mega, and he was remanded to Union County Jail.Convictions on first-degree crimes are punishable by 10 to 20 years in state prison, while second-degree crimes commonly result in penalties of 5 to 10 years in state prison.