Saturday, September 04, 2010

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Busted Ecstasy ring called 'tip of iceberg'
Source: The Seattle Times
Author: Ian Ith

An undercover federal drug bust this week has reached deep into the heart of the Seattle nightclub and rave scene, including the arrests of a co-owner of a new Chinatown International District nightclub and several dance-club promoters.

In court documents and testimony yesterday, federal prosecutors outlined an extensive, two-year federal Drug Enforcement Administration investigation that relied heavily on court-authorized wiretaps to bring indictments against 30 people.

Prosecutors say the investigation is among the largest involving the club-drug MDMA, known as Ecstasy, in the nation.

Several of those charged were involved in promoting events at a number of popular nightclubs and dance venues, including the now-defunct Planet Hollywood in downtown Seattle, according to documents and interviews with club-scene insiders.

Prosecutors allege more than 50,000 tablets of the hallucinogen Ecstasy were sold. In addition, defendants allegedly sold methamphetamine, ketamine (an animal tranquilizer known in the club scene as Special K), steroids, marijuana and more than 12 pounds of cocaine.

Each of the 30 defendants is charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs. And because prosecutors say some of the drugs were sold to minors, the potential penalties are harsh: 10 years to life in prison, fines of up to $4 million and five years of supervised release.

Yesterday in court, several of the defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Monica Benton. Most were released from detention either on home electronic monitoring or on their own recognizance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Friedman detailed sales of quantities of Ecstasy to undercover officers stretching back more than two years.

Friedman said at least two of the defendants, Ben Peterson and Christopher Young, were selling Ecstasy at various dance venues. Young allegedly sold 500 Ecstasy tablets to an undercover officer at a so-called rave in June at the Seattle Exhibition Hall, where a number of dancers overdosed.

Both Young and Peterson were allegedly selling the drugs for another defendant, 24-year-old Felicia Hollenbeck of Seattle. Court records show Hollenbeck has an earlier drug conviction.

Also charged was Nho Van Vo, also known as Noah Vo, who co-owns Club NV, a nightclub at Sixth Avenue and South Main Street in the Chinatown International District that opened Nov. 30.

Before opening the club, Vo sponsored dance events at Planet Hollywood, several acquaintances said.

Other club promoters named in the indictment were connected to the movie-themed restaurant and nightclub near Westlake Center in downtown Seattle.

Defendants Anthony Fletcher and William Ripley also did promotion work for Planet Hollywood, and most recently promoted shows for Vo at Club NV, according to several fellow promoters.

Also charged is Devon Jackson, 29, the owner of Rocket Promotions. He was one of the key promoters for Planet Hollywood and had recently promoted shows for other local nightclubs.

At least two other people charged in the sting are related to Vo, including Nhat Van Vo, who has a business license to run a restaurant in the Club NV building. Another defendant, Alan Mar, listed Vo's Redmond company, Ultraspeed, as his employer in court documents.

Typically, nightclub promoters contract with restaurant or hall owners to put on the dances, then hire DJs and advertise the event. The restaurants get hundreds of customers and the promoters keep the entry fees.

So far, federal prosecutors have revealed little about their evidence, nor have they detailed the specific allegations against each of those charged.

That has left the nightclub scene abuzz with speculation.

"It's really puzzling," said one nightclub promoter. "Everybody's pretty puzzled. We don't understand how all these people are connected."

Ian Ith can be reached at 206-464-2109 or iith@seattletimes.com. Mike Carter can be reached at 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com.