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The Daily Tar Heel

UNC grad student charged with manufacturing 2,700 Xanax pills

Gary Lewis Cantor, 26, a cancer researcher and Ph.D. student in genetics and molecular biology, was found in possession of more than 2,700 tablets believed to be Xanax, approximately 280 grams of marijuana and more than two dozen vials of a substance believed to be anabolic steroids, according to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.

Xanax, the brand name for the drug alprazolam, is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. The North Carolina Controlled Substances Act classifies the drug as a Schedule IV substance. Anabolic steroids, often prescribed to treat hormone deficiencies, are synthetic variants of testosterone.

Investigators obtained a search warrant after someone filed complaints about the smell of marijuana coming from Cantor’s home in Durham, according to the sheriff’s department. Authorities said they found not only the drugs but also a device used to manufacture tablets, commonly known as a pill press.

The magistrate’s order states that the manufacturing process involved using a pill press to turn powdered Xanax into pills.

According to the same order, Cantor was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia such as rolling papers, smoking devices, marijuana grinders and plastic and glass storage containers.

According to court documents, Cantor is also charged with distributing the drugs from his home.

Cantor graduated from the University of Florida in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and is originally from Coral Springs, Fla., according to his Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

Jean Cook, biochemistry and biophysics professor, said Cantor entered the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, an umbrella admissions and first-year Ph.D. training program, in 2012.

Cook said that at the end of his first year, Cantor was selected from among 14 Ph.D.-granting programs, served by the umbrella program, and started at a dissertation-affiliated laboratory located in Research Triangle Park. The normal progression meant he was not a Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program student after his first year at UNC.

According to court documents, Cantor was released on $5,500 bond the same day as his arrest.

His court date has been set for 9 a.m. on Feb. 18 at the Durham County Courthouse.

UNC spokesperson Jim Gregory said the University has no comment at this time. As of Monday night, Cantor is still officially a student, but Gregory said the appropriate people are aware of the situation and actions are being taken.

“This is a matter for Durham County authorities,” Gregory said.

university@dailytarheel.com

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