Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jul 2002
Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2002 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1326
Author: Jon Burstein

DRUG LAWYER FACES MARIJUANA CHARGES

A lawyer who specialized in helping drug defendants kick the habit until 
his arrest on cocaine charges in February was indicted Tuesday on six 
marijuana-related charges.

Former Assistant Public Defender Damon Amedeo, 30, now faces nine felony 
charges in a federal investigation begun after Douglas D. Rozelle III, 18, 
was found dead Jan. 6 in the lawyer's bedroom. Amedeo had been representing 
Rozelle in a drug case.

During Amedeo's time with the Public Defender's Office, he had helped 
coordinate Palm Beach County's Drug Court. He left the office in January 
2001 and began working at the law practice of Rozelle's father, Douglas 
Rozelle Jr.

Federal agents arrested Amedeo in February after finding a videotape in the 
attorney's West Palm Beach apartment apparently showing him snorting 
cocaine and smoking marijuana with Rozelle, according to court records. The 
footage was shot sometime between October and Rozelle's death.

Amedeo was indicted in March on two counts of supplying cocaine to Rozelle 
and an unidentified man and on a third charge of possessing firearms while 
doing drugs. Amedeo has never faced charges related to Rozelle's death.

In Tuesday's indictment, Amedeo was charged with possessing marijuana and 
giving the drug to Rozelle and four other men between the ages of 18 and 21.

Federal prosecutors have alleged in court records that between September 
and early January, Amedeo regularly invited Rozelle and Rozelle's friends 
to his West Palm Beach apartment to use drugs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Reinhart could not be reached for comment 
Tuesday on the additional charges. Amedeo could face up to 10 years in 
prison for each of the five counts of supplying marijuana to Rozelle and 
Rozelle's friends.

Amedeo's attorneys said Tuesday they are mystified why Amedeo is being 
prosecuted in federal court for what at worst is alleged to be small 
quantities of drugs for recreational use. Typically, such charges are filed 
in state court, they said.

"In my 22 years of practice I have never seen a federal prosecution with 
this level of drug usage," said Jack Goldberger, one of Amedeo's attorneys. 
"I have no idea what is motivating the government to do what it is doing."

James Eisenberg, Amedeo's other attorney, said Tuesday that drug tests 
showed that Amedeo had only marijuana in his system shortly after Rozelle's 
death. Authorities have refused to release Rozelle's autopsy report.

"There's no hint of foul play," Eisenberg said. "It appears someone who had 
voluntarily taken drugs had an accidental overdose."
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