ND man pleads guilty in synthetic drug overdose

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota teen has pleaded guilty to dealing synthetic drugs that led to the overdose death of a Grand Forks teen.

Wesley Sweeney, of Manvel, appeared Friday in federal court. He pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute drugs that resulted in death.

Authorities say the 18-year-old Sweeney supplied the synthetic hallucinogens to 18-year-old Christian Bjerk, who died June 11 of an apparent overdose.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.

Investigators say the wide-ranging conspiracy involves several people in the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., area.

Eighteen-year-old Adam Budge of East Grand Forks is charged with supplying drugs that led to the June 15 overdose death of 17-year-old Elijah Stai, of Park Rapids, Minn.

Police say a handful of people were hospitalized from overdoses.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.