19 ARRESTED IN DRUG PROBE THAT ALSO SNAGS 2 DEPUTIES

Police Say They Busted a Major Ring Involved in the Date-Rape Drug GHB

Authorities Friday announced they are investigating two Orange County
deputy sheriffs for their roles in an eight-month probe into the
distribution of the date-rape drug GHB in Central Florida.

News of the complaints against the two officers came only hours after
agents from several agencies arrested 19 people suspected of making
and selling the drug that is popular on college campuses and in nightclubs.

Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary identified the deputies as Armando
Perez, 29, and Kevin Gomez, 27, both members of the sheriff's
narcotics squad. They were suspended with pay during the investigation
by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the sheriff's
Professional Standards Division.

At a news conference to discuss the drug probe, Beary offered few
details on the accusations against Perez and Gomez.

"While I cannot discuss the details pertaining to this investigation,
I want to stress that these allegations do not involve these deputies
using drugs or selling drugs," Beary said.

Whatever the outcome of the investigations, the deputies' roles should
not hurt prosecution of suspects in the GHB ring, Beary said.

"I don't think in any way, shape or form that it will jeopardize it,"
Beary said.

Orange-Osceola State Attorney Lawson Lamar said, "If there's criminal
activity [involving the officers], I'll take care of it."

Lamar, Beary and others then shifted the news conference's focus to
the drug bust, which involved seven local, state and federal agencies
and was directed by the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation.

"This is a wonderful victory," Lamar said. "Not only are the drugs off
the street, the dealers are off the street."

Earlier Friday, agents announced the arrest of 19 people and seizure
of more than 26 gallons of gamma-butyrolactone GBL, an essential
ingredient for making GHB.

Investigators think the chemicals seized from five GHB labs could have
been mixed to create 190,000 doses of GHB, with a potential street
value of more than $2 million.

The investigation, dubbed Operation G-2, was a follow-up to a probe last year
called Operation: What's Up G?

In last year's raids, authorities picked up those considered mostly
low-level dealers. Those suspects provided information that helped
investigators go after those suspected of mixing and distributing the
drugs on a broader level.

Investigators say Robert Cooke Jr., 32, Fort Lauderdale, was a major
supplier to the Orlando area. Cooke's supplier, Angelo Demeo, 29,
lived in Largo, investigators said. Both were arrested Feb. 27.

Investigators said Cooke apparently traveled to Orlando to collect
money from local dealers. He then met Demeo to buy large amounts of
GBL.

The arrests of Cooke and DeMeo led investigators to local
distributors. Officials arrested people at four Orlando-area locations
suspected of being labs where GBL was mixed with lye and water to create GHB.

Investigators say the local labs were run by Eric Simmons, 27, of 8670
Larwin Lane, Orlando; Sean Gumbert, 30, 1630 N. Orange Ave., Winter
Park; Michael "Shane" Howard, 30, 2206 E. Anderson St., Orlando; and
Brian Ferguson, 27, 2283 S. Conway Road, Building 8, Apt. 803.

Agents also arrested another 13 people in connection with the ring.
They were Douglas Dirscherl, 30; Jason Robbins, 28; Michael Fugazzi,
24; Edward "Dave" Weed, 33; Bernard Russell Corey, 37; Floyd Milton
Moore, 30; Lori Ann Whitaker, 40; Stephen Keith Wilkinson, 25; Rene
Talamas, 29; Brice Henry Boulet, 27; Robert Wayne Hodges, 24; Jeffrey
Bryan Carlisle, 35; and Cameron Eric Coffman, 27.

All 19 were arrested on conspiracy or trafficking charges or both.
They could face 15 years in prison if convicted on the charges.

Investigators said the network distributed the GHB to Orlando
nightclubs, college students and lower level dealers. It is a clear,
odorless liquid added to drinks. It costs $10 to $15 per dose, usually
one or two grams. The drug is often carried in water bottles and
eyedrop containers.

"It's pretty prevalent in all the nightclubs throughout Central
Florida," said Lt. Larry Zwieg, who heads up the MBI's narcotics division.

"We're seeing a lot more of it than in years past," he said.

He said Friday's arrests should slow down the flow of the drug in
Central Florida.

"I think we've made a major impact on the availability and the
production and distribution of GHB in Central Florida because we've
actually got the people who were bringing the chemicals to make it and
cooking it up in the labs to distribute it to dealers," Zwieg said.

The investigation included the MBI, FDLE, the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, Orlando Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's
Office, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Support Center and
the Office of Statewide Prosecution.