Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 Source: Times-Picayune, The (LA) Copyright: 2002 The Times-Picayune Contact: http://www.nola.com/t-p/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/848 Author: Gwen Filosa, The Times-Picayune Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy) 7 INDICTED IN ECSTASY CONSPIRACY PROBE 1 Million Doses Driven to N.O., Court Files Say For almost a year, a drug dealer made regular trips from Miami to New Orleans with some 50,000 tablets of Ecstasy stored in the spare tire of his sport utility vehicle, prosecutors say. And when someone got in the way of the drug ring, suspect Jason Rodriguez and another man roughed him up, a federal grand jury charged, in a case involving the overall distribution of about 1 million tablets, the largest quantity of Ecstasy prosecutors have seen in New Orleans from one investigation. Rodriguez, 24, faces federal charges of conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy as well as aggravated battery. Michael J. Strazzulla, 24, of Hollywood, Fla., is also charged with battery. Five others are charged with conspiring in the Ecstasy enterprise: Brad M. Brunet, 23, of Metairie; Jonathan I. Little, 30, of Lafayette; William D. Wagner, 33, of Harvey; Steven J. Forster Jr., 24, of Metairie; and Dustin Arnondin, 25, of Kenner. The indictments and other documents in the case were unsealed Tuesday. Prosecutors said Brad Brunet is not related to Robert Brunet, whose corporation Barbecue Inc. pleaded guilty last year in federal court to violating the so-called "crack house law" by creating an environment for drug use at the State Palace Theatreon Canal Street during electronic music events. The conspiracy to distribute charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $1 million fine; the battery charge also carries up to 20 years. Ecstasy, or MDMA, has long been associated with electronic music parties called "raves," but it has grown in popularity in the past few years in places far from the dance floor. Prices vary, but the median price per one-tablet dose is about $25. As its bold street name implies, Ecstasy is known for providing its users with euphoric sensations. None of the accused has had an opportunity to enter a plea, and arraignments are set for Aug. 4. Reached at his office in Fort Lauderdale, Rodriguez's attorney John Cotrone declined comment. Prosecutors said Rodriguez and Strazzulla muscled a local man named Russel Vinet on March 4, 2001, because they wrongly suspected him of stealing a large number of Ecstasy tablets. No other details of the incident were made available Tuesday. According to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, the Ecstasy bust was a textbook example of using confidential informants and low-level operators to snare the bigger dealers. Eleven such informants, all alleged co-conspirators with Rodriguez, spoke with investigators, the complaint shows. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents learned last September that two local men allegedly were dealing Ecstasy in New Orleans and that the source of the drug was in Miami. The tip led to the arrest of a man named Roland Whitney, who was booked on Sept. 15 with possession of 2,400 tablets. Whitney implicated his supplier, Brian Williams, who also cooperated with the DEA, admitting he passed on the 2,400 pills to Whitney and naming Rodriguez as his supplier, according to an affidavit in federal court. Between May and September 2001, Williams told authorities, he bought 50,000 tablets from Rodriguez and sold them throughout New Orleans. With that information, DEA agents obtained an arrest warrant accusing Rodriguez of violating his probation, the result of a previous conviction for cocaine distribution. He was arrested Oct. 11. He was found staying with Arnondin at his home on Sun Valley Lane in Slidell, his Lincoln Navigator parked in the garage. Inside the SUV were two spare tires that had been split open. On Nov. 2, agents searched the Sun Valley Lane home and seized 63,000 Ecstasy tablets hidden in a lawn mower's collection bag, records show. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager