Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2005
Source: New York City Newsday (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Newsday, Inc.
Contact: http://cf.newsday.com/newsdayemail/email.cfm
Website: http://www.nynewsday.com/news/printedition/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3362
Author: John Christoffersen, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

DETECTIVE TALKED IN CODE TO GET PAINKILLERS, AUTHORITIES SAY

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- When federal agents tapping phones during a drug 
investigation heard a police detective talking about "Shrek" and "pressure 
treated lumber," they suspected he wasn't referring to the popular cartoon 
character or material for a deck.

Detective Jeffrey G. Streck was speaking in code about OxyContin, a 
powerful painkiller that has been widely abused around the country, 
authorities said.

"Significantly, Shrek the cartoon character, like the 80 milligram tablets 
of OxyContin, is green," an FBI agent wrote in Streck's arrest affidavit. 
"As a homeowner and frequent visitor to hardware stores such as The Home 
Depot, I know that the ends of pressure treated lumber are green as a 
consequence of their being treated with preservatives."

Streck, of Monroe, was presented in U.S. District Court Thursday on charges 
he conspired to possess and distribute oxycodone and used a telephone to 
make a drug deal. Oxycodone is an active ingredient in the powerful 
painkiller OxyContin.

The two charges could bring a combined 24 years in prison and $1.25 million 
in fines.

Streck, who joined the Bridgeport Police Department in 1993 and was 
promoted to detective in 2003, is one of seven defendants facing drug 
charges as a result of an investigation that included intercepts of cell 
phone conversations.

Another of the suspects, Juan Marrero, is also accused of operating a 
large-scale cocaine and crack ring. Authorities said they seized 1.5 
kilograms of cocaine, $150,000 in cash, jewelry and firearms.

"To the best of my knowledge, Detective Streck's alleged involvement in the 
conspiracy is limited to possession of painkillers," said Peter Truebner, 
Streck's attorney.

Streck has a serious back injury that he suffered while apprehending a 
suspect, Truebner said.

Streck, who has been out sick and injured for more than six months, has 
been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the federal proceeding, 
acting Police Chief Anthony Armeno said. No other members of the department 
are involved, he said.

In one conversation, Marrero complains to Streck that one of his customers 
has not paid him for drugs and appears to try to enlist the detective to 
encourage the customer to speed up repayment, according to the affidavit. 
In another conversation, Streck says he has to drop off another "hundred," 
authorities said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons invited Streck to sit during the 
proceedings Thursday because of his back problems, but he declined.

Streck was released on his own recognizance, providing he commits no 
crimes, seeks substance-abuse treatment, surrenders all weapons and does 
not leave the state without permission. He is scheduled to appear again in 
federal court March 16 for a probable cause hearing.
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