An Army Black Hawk pilot, Kyle Norton Riester, is facing federal charges for allegedly selling nearly 1,800 orders of LSD on the dark web, claiming his actions were protected by religious freedom laws. According to The Washington Post, Riester, a first lieutenant with the 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, argued in court that his sales were driven by "Divine guidance" received through LSD use, a defense that was ultimately rejected by a judge.
Riester's legal team argued that his LSD sales were a form of religious expression, protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. They claimed that Riester's spiritual belief in LSD compelled him to distribute the drug to fellow believers. His attorney, George G. Lake, stated in court, "He felt compelled to dispense to co-religionists," adding that "his religion still compels him."
However, U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga dismissed this argument, emphasizing that the government has a compelling interest in protecting public health and safety by regulating controlled substances. Federal prosecutors alleged that Riester's method of selling LSD on the dark web was not limited to religious adherents but was open to anyone, including minors and law enforcement officers posing as buyers. The judge rejected the defense's arguments that Riester's LSD sales aligned with the protections offered by religious freedom laws.
Beyond the LSD charges, Riester is also indicted on separate money-laundering charges in Texas. He is accused of using a fraudulent email address to divert a $285,000 wire transfer intended for an unnamed British company, subsequently converting the funds into cryptocurrency. Riester has pleaded not guilty to these charges, and his trial is scheduled for July.
Within the military, Riester remains on active duty but has been reassigned to administrative duties and denied access to classified materials, according to an Army representative who spoke to The Washington Post. The Army is pursuing a dishonorable discharge for him.
Notably, Riester's wife, who is also a Black Hawk pilot in the same battalion, was said to have had “no knowledge of and/or association with plaintiff’s LSD-related religious activities,” as stated in his court documents. Furthermore, Riester holds the belief that bitcoin is a sacred tool for facilitating the distribution of LSD, which he refers to as the "Holy Sacrament," to his spiritual community. The specific name of his religion has not been disclosed in court proceedings.
Following a search of his Springfield, Virginia, apartment by the FBI and other agencies in August, 2024, Riester was given until April 4, 2025, to accept a plea deal. The deal would require him to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute LSD and one count of LSD distribution, which could result in several years of imprisonment. While Riester asserts that his actions were religiously motivated, it remains uncertain whether Riester accepted this offer.