Wednesday, July 26, 2006 Former officer will testify
Benedict guilty in drug case
By Milton J. Valencia TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER— A former police officer who pleaded guilty to aiding a drug ring will testify against his co-defendants, including a fellow police officer, according to federal court records.
Brian W. Benedict, 36, of Auburn, was scheduled for sentencing in U.S. District Court today, but the hearing was postponed until after the co-defendants’ trials, scheduled for October.
Mr. Benedict had been a police officer for 10 years, but resigned soon after he was named in a six-count indictment alleging the drug ring distributed GHB, an illegal muscle enhancer used on the streets as a rave drug. It is known as Liquid G, and when administered in significant doses can be used as a date rape drug.
Mr. Benedict pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute GHB and conspiring to possess cocaine and Ecstasy. Police Officer Heriberto Arroyo, 36, faces the same charges. He has pleaded not guilty, and has been placed on administrative leave.
Matthew McLaughlin, 36, a bodybuilder from Maine and the alleged supplier for the ring, is charged with conspiring to distribute GHB. Thomas J. Vigliatura, 36, of Worcester, the alleged leader of the ring, was charged in all six counts of the indictment, including four charges of distribution of GHB.
Mr. Vigliatura, who owned a nutrition supplement store in Worcester, is in jail awaiting trial. Mr. McLaughlin had been free on bail but was detained after he tested positive for steroids. Mr. Arroyo is free on bail.
Mr. Benedict’s testimony in the government’s case against his three co-defendants had been expected since it was revealed that he cooperated with federal agents last summer.
He had already been indicted, but the document was sealed and the charges were not made public. But the defendants knew about the ongoing federal investigation, according to federal court documents and transcripts.
Mr. Vigliatura had allegedly made threats to kill the prosecutor in the case, and said he would flee, according to court testimony. Mr. Benedict, already aware of the federal investigation, reported the threats to authorities.
John C. Fisher, Mr. Benedict’s lawyer, said his client realized then that Mr. Vigliatura’s talk had grown too serious, and that he felt an obligation to report the threats.
Mr. Benedict wore a wire during conversations with Mr. Vigliatura, and worked with agents recording the threats. Mr. Benedict’s cooperation was instrumental in the government’s case to keep Mr. Vigliatura detained, with prosecutors arguing he would be a threat to safety and a flight risk if released before trial.
Mr. Benedict never signed a plea agreement when he agreed to plead guilty, according to lawyers in the case. But recently filed court documents show that the government will consider his testimony against his co-defendants in determining his sentence.
He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for conspiring to distribute GHB, and a year for conspiring to possess cocaine and Ecstasy.
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