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June 4, 2008

Kaczur arrested for painkillers, then helps with drug sting

According to a story in today's Boston Globe, Patriots offensive lineman Nick Kaczur was arrested in April on a charge of illegal possession of prescription painkillers, and a month later wore a hidden recording device to help the federal Drug Enforcement Agency arrest his alleged dealer.

During the sting, Kaczur reportedly paid $3,900 to buy 100 OxyContin pills from the alleged dealer, Daniel Ekasala, at gas stations in North Attleboro and Foxboro and a supermarket parking lot in Sharon, Mass. OxyContin, the brand name of high-powered pain killer oxycodone, has seen its abuse on the rise in recent years; most pharmacies no longer keep the drug on premises because of robberies.

Kaczur, who started 15 games at right tackle for the Patriots last season, apparently began buying the OxyContin last November; according to Ekasala's attorney, Bernard Grossberg, Kaczur told DEA officials he bought 100 pills at a time, every few days.

Though Kaczur denied working with the DEA or knowing Ekasala when approached by a Globe reporter, Grossberg acknowledged that Kaczur was the cooperating witness in the case. If the case goes to trial, Kaczur would be required to testify.

Kaczur was originally arrested on April 27 by New York State police when he was pulled over for speeding on the New York Thruway. A small amount of OxyContin was found in his car and he was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a misdemeanor.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young at 7:47 AM | Permalink

Comments

Nick must go. There's no excuse for this. I'm a huge Pats fan, but this is the final straw. I hope the NFL suspends Nick for 1 year, and the Pats outright release. His NFL career deserves to be over for what he has done, and his denial of his involvement despite evidence to the contrary is cowardly and despicable.

Posted by: Rail at June 4, 2008 10:06 AM

Perhaps Kaczur was taking OcyContin during the SuperBowl game, and handing them out to the rest of the offensive line. Kaczur is the "weakest link" on this line and just got much weaker.

Posted by: art at June 4, 2008 4:42 PM