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" ... investigators are trying to determine who tipped off Galanter
[OJ's atty.] about the federal raid one day before it happened..."
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Miami Herald
December 8, 2001
Feds try to build theft case on O.J.
BY DAVID GREEN, JAY WEAVER AND LUISA YANEZ
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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.
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