Former owner of Fragrance Hut to serve 11 years for selling synthetic drugs

CEDAR RAPIDS - The former owner of Fragrance Hut where K-2 and other synthetic drugs were sold was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison Wednesday.

Matthew J. McCauley, 39, pleaded guilty last October to one count each of maintaining a drug involved premises and to aggravated identity theft. McCauley admitted in the plea hearing that he opened and operated Fragrance Hut, 2902 First Ave. NE, for the purpose of distributing illegal controlled substances - synthetic drugs commonly known as 'Spice” or K-2 from February through March 2014.

During the plea hearing, McCauley admitted to placing online orders for more than 2 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoid products for the store during May and June 2014.

McCauley also admitted to using the name and birth date of an actual person for a fake driver's license he created. He then used that identity to obtain a fraudulent line of credit to purchase jewelry at a local jewelry store.

According to previous testimony during a detention hearing, a traffic stop involving one of his employees led to McCauley's arrest. The employee had 63 packets of synthetic marijuana in his car. At that time, he told officers McCauley told him to take the items home in case the business was burglarized.

Undercover agents later purchased two packets of synthetic drugs from the Fragrance Hut, according to the criminal complaint. The next day, officers responded to a motel regarding a disturbance call where McCauley was staying.

Police found the fraudulent driver's license and $1,245 in cash on McCauley, according to the complaint. Officers also found multiple packages of synthetic drugs, prescription pill bottles with two plastic bags of methamphetamine, and 47 oxycodone and 17 hydrocodone pills in McCauley's bag.

McCauley has several previous convictions, including recent convictions in Linn County District Court for theft and forgery. He also has a pending warrant out of Minnesota.