OJ - Feds try to build theft case

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miamiherald

Published Saturday, December 8, 2001

Feds try to build theft case on O.J.

BY DAVID GREEN, JAY WEAVER AND LUISA YANEZ dgreen@herald.com

Federal investigators are building a case to charge O.J. Simpson with the theft of satellite TV software, two sources familiar with the probe told The Herald.

FBI agents removed satellite equipment from Simpson's sprawling Kendall home during a predawn raid Tuesday, part of a drug investigation that netted 11 indictments related to the sale and purchase of Ecstasy, a popular club drug.

Agents also found traces of marijuana and narcotics paraphernalia in the house, but no Ecstasy, sources say.

Yale Galanter, Simpson's lawyer, said Friday evening that his client broke no law. He added that any marijuana residue found does not belong to the retired Hall of Fame running back.

``If laboratory findings state that there was trace amounts of marijuana found in one of the bedrooms, it would not be associated with Mr. Simpson,'' Galanter said.

Sources close to the investigation said their most promising lead involves the satellite software found in Simpson's house.

``O.J. is implicated in the satellite TV software scam. We're building a case against him and others,'' said a federal law enforcement source, adding that more arrests are not imminent.

KNEW ABOUT RAID

The revelation comes as investigators are trying to determine who tipped off Galanter about the federal raid one day before it happened.

After agents raided the house at 6 a.m. Tuesday, removing the satellite equipment and other items, Galanter told reporters that he knew about the raid Monday, but declined to say if he had notified Simpson.

``We were stunned,'' said an agent involved in the raid.

Galanter has declined to comment further on how he knew about the raid.

On Friday, four of the people arrested Tuesday appeared in a bond hearing before U.S. Magistrate Andrea Simonton. Among those facing charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Ecstasy is Andrew Anderson, the owner of Euphoria, a West Kendall massage parlor, who federal sources say had extensive phone conversations with Simpson about buying Ecstasy.

During Friday's bond hearing, prosecutors revealed Anderson, 34, had changed his name from Adrian Alwyn Burke after being charged in 1993 with possession of narcotics with intent to distribute. Federal prosecutors did not know the outcome of that case.

Burke and two other defendants -- alleged ringleader Carlos Alberto Braga Jr., 34, of Brazil, and John Thorburn, 32, of Miami Shores -- opted to postpone their hearings.

The fourth, Orlando Mena, 30, of Miami had bond set at $200,000. Mena has a previous arrest for importing steroids on Jan. 9, 1998, but the amount was small, according to court testimony, and the case dismissed.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison, as well as fines and forfeitures. Braga faces additional charges of laundering $800,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Gonzalez declined to comment Friday morning following the bond hearing, which revealed some new details about the two-year probe, dubbed Operation X.

DRUG DEALS

FBI Special Agent Virginia Green testified that Burke often sold thousands of Ecstasy pills to his codefendants, all part of an operation that reached Holland, South Beach, Chicago and Brazil.

Investigators said wiretaps of Burke's cellphone conversations also captured him arranging drug sales with Mena. When agents raided the house where Mena lives with his mother on Tuesday, they caught him -- naked -- flushing a brick of cocaine down the toilet, prosecutors said.

During the probe, sources say, agents stumbled upon Simpson while secretly monitoring Burke's phone conversations.

``Simpson's voice is all over the tapes on [Burke's] cell regarding wanting to buy Ecstasy,'' said a law enforcement source.

Based on those conversations, agents obtained a search warrant signed by a U.S. magistrate. That warrant remains sealed.

-- Anonymous, December 08, 2001

Answers

Every time I see this thread I laugh.

I finally managed to hold the mouse still enough to click on it.

LOL

-- Anonymous, December 09, 2001


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