6 West Point cadets face drug conspiracy charges

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Six West Point cadets are facing charges they conspired to distribute drugs, the U.S. Military Academy said Friday.

One member of the Class of 2016 and five members of the Class of 2017 were "similarly charged" under military law with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and wrongful use, introduction and distribution of controlled substances, according to the academy.

West Point officials did not say what drug or drugs were involved or provide details about the charges, which are the first step in the court-martial process.

But Greg Rinckey, a lawyer with expertise in military law who is not involved in this case, said the charges are "very serious" and seem to point to a conspiracy to bring drugs onto a military installation.

Evidence collected during an upcoming pretrial investigation will be provided to a senior military officer who could dispose of the cadets' case or recommend trial by court-martial to the superintendent.

A West Point spokesman said Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen could not comment because of his involvement in the process.

The cadets, who are on administrative leave, are Joshua Bobo, Jaelen Gadson, Tevin Long, Christopher Monge and Jalen Swett, who are all seniors, along with Jared Rogers, who is in the Class of 2016.

West Point and the Army did not provide names of their lawyers. Efforts to reach the cadets were not immediately successful.

This is not the first time multiple cadets have faced drug charges at the storied academy on the Hudson River. In February 2007, drug charges were filed against four cadets who failed a random urinalysis.

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