Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
December 5, 2001 Wednesday South Broward Edition

FEDS SEARCH O.J.'S KENDALL HOUSE;
WIRETAP LEADS TO SUSPECTS IN ECSTASY RING



Trouble returned to O.J. Simpson's doorstep Tuesday, delivered by federal agents investigating an international drug pipeline funneling Ecstasy from Europe to South Beach.

Simpson was not arrested, nor was any Ecstasy found inside a search of his Kendall home, which began at 6 a.m. with agents from the FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Miami-Dade police.

"He's not being questioned. He's free to go where he wants," said FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela.

Eleven others were arrested in Miami and Chicago, with another still at large in Brazil, in a conspiracy to import 100,000 Ecstasy pills into Miami each month, launder drug proceeds and install illegal signal-stealing satellite cards in people's homes.

Orihuela said the FBI wasn't singling Simpson out. Nine residences were searched Tuesday, and four of those, including Simpson's, were not connected to people who were arrested.

Simpson was getting his children ready for school and answered the door in his bathrobe when agents arrived in the pre-dawn darkness.

Operation X was launched in 1999 to combat the tide of Ecstasy, the euphoric drug favored by young club-goers, flowing into South Beach nightclubs. One of its first targets was Jose Diogo Theriaga, 27, who moved from Miami to Brazil this year and remains at large.

Theriaga is accused of laundering almost $550,000 through a government informant between 1999 and 2000, openly admitting to the informant that the money came from his Ecstasy sales.

Carlos Alberto Braga Jr., 34, and his brother-in-law, Eric Hinz, 37, ran the ring out of their apartments at the Floridian, a high-rise at 650 West Ave. in Miami Beach, according to the FBI. Theriaga stayed with Braga when he was not in Brazil. Those apartments were searched Tuesday, but authorities would not say whether they found the Ecstasy laboratory and $7 million cash Braga allegedly discussed with the government informant.

In addition to Braga, Hinz, Theriaga and Walker, also arrested and charged in the conspiracy were: Andrew Anderson, 33, a Jamaican national who lived and worked at his business, an alleged massage parlor called Euphoria, at 12938 SW 94th St.; Zenaida Galvez, 36, of Miami; Phillipe Gornial Jr., 30, of Kendall; Gerald Lenz, an Israeli national and Ecstasy dealer serving a 42-month sentence in a separate bust in April; Susanna Margarita Jimenez, 35, of Kendall; Orlando Mena, 30, of Kendall; Mark Nowakowski, 44, of Miami Beach and Toledo, Ohio; and John Thorburn, 32, of Miami Shores.

All face sentences of up to 20 years in prison.

 

The Associated Press State & Local Wire
February 28, 2002, Thursday, BC cycle

Four plead guilty in drug case that led to search of O.J. Simpson home

DATELINE: MIAMI


Four suspects pleaded guilty in a federal court Thursday in a drug case that resulted in a search of O.J. Simpson's Florida home last December.

Andrew Anderson, Philippe Gornail, Gerald Lenz and John Thorburn face up to 20 or more years for their role in selling the drug ecstasy and illegal satellite equipment.

Anderson is also known by the name Adrian Burke.

The four dealt up to 35,000 ecstasy pills in South Beach nightclubs. The former football star was targeted after he was caught on tape discussing ecstasy with Anderson, according to court documents.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Gonzalez said the investigation is continuing, but offered no new insight into any possible charges against Simpson.

Yale Galanter, Simpson's attorney, has denied Simpson had anything to do with the drug ring.

Three other defendants are expected to enter pleas before the trial starts March 13. The original target of the Drug Enforcement Administration investigation, Jose Theriaga, remains at large.

Zenaida Galvez pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a charge of ecstasy distribution conspiracy for her part in the ring.


 

Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
March 1, 2002 Friday Broward Metro Edition


FOUR PLEAD GUILTY IN ECSTASY CHAIN;
NO LIGHT SHED ON LINK TO O.J.


The prime players in a crime ring that dealt up to 35,000 Ecstasy pills in South Beach nightclubs pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday without shedding further light on their connection with O.J. Simpson, whose home was raided as part of the investigation.

Adrian Burke, aka Andrew Anderson, Philippe Gornail, Gerald Lenz and John Thorburn each face up to 20 years for their roles in selling Ecstasy and illegal satellite equipment.

Simpson was targeted after he was caught on tape discussing Ecstasy with Anderson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Gonzalez said the investigation is continuing, but he offered no new insight into any possible charges against Simpson.

Lenz was at the top of an Ecstasy chain in which he sold pills to Burke and Burke sold pills to Thorburn and Gornail. Three others are expected to plead by next week. The original target of the Drug Enforcement Administration's investigation, Jose Theriaga, remains at large.