FORMER FIRST CIRCUIT EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR DISTRIBUTING OXYCONTIN PILLS

Boston, MA—A Pembroke resident was arrested today for his role in distributing Oxycontin pills in violation of the federal drug laws.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - New England Field Division and Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis announced today that CHRISTOPHER COOK, age 28, of 28 West Street, Pembroke, Massachusetts, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with possessing with intent to distribute Oxycontin pills, a Schedule II controlled substance.

In a sworn affidavit unsealed today in federal court, the government alleges that COOK, a former First Circuit employee and applicant to the Boston Police Department, has been purchasing large quantities of Oxycontin pills on a regular basis for well over a year. In a consensually recorded telephone conversation with a cooperating witness (“CW”) on January 25, 2008, COOK indicated that he would obtain Oxycontin pills to sell to the CW. On January 27, 2008, COOK sold 200 Oxycontin pills to the CW for $8,000 (of which $7600 was paid immediately to COOK). As noted in federal court today at COOK’s initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler, COOK was arrested this morning after taking possession of 1200 placebo pills which COOK believed to be Oxycontin.

If convicted on the current charges, COOK faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ incarceration, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. COOK was detained today and there is a bail hearing scheduled on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Boston Police Department's Anti-Corruption Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George W. Vien in Sullivan’s Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit.

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