Synthetic Drugs

     Another former University of North Dakota student has been sent to prison in what authorities say was a synthetic drug ring in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota that led to two overdose deaths. 
 
     22-year-old Peter Jevning Hoistad was sentenced for probation violation in state court Thursday to three years, which will be served concurrently with a federal sentence handed down earlier this week.
 
     The eight-year federal prison sentence issued Monday relates to Hoistad's guilty plea to conspiracy and distributing illegal drugs. Prosecutors dropped a charge that the drugs resulted in injury and death, which could have landed Hoistad in prison for life.
 
     Hoistad told the judge that he made an extremely bad mistake.

AP