32 Photographs brought into Court as Evidence against Defendants in "Drug Ring" Case

(A follow-up article on the Ramsden/King case, focused on the evidence presented in court)

BOSTON – In U.S. District Court in Boston on Monday, Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration Eugene DiFiore provided key witness arguments against the case of a two-year Crystal Methamphetamine and GHB trafficking scandal between Scott Ramsden and Robert King.

DiFiore headed the investigation that utilized surveillance and wiretaps in order to track the purchasing and distributing of Crystal Meth and GHB between Scott Ramsden, 49, and Robert King, 42.

Crystal Methamphetamine, commonly referred to as Crystal Meth, is a psychoactive stimulant approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid, GHB, a depressive drug, is strictly regulated for medical purposes within the U.S and commonly referred to by its street name, the date-rape drug.

Through wiretaps, DiFiore discovered that much of the communication between Ramsden and King took place through text messaging services on their cell phones. Drug price and amount were discussed through text messages, and in most cases King would request a supply provided by Ramsden. Green Dot Corporation, an issuer of prepaid credit cards, allowed money transfers to flow easily between Ramsden and King.

Assistant U.S Attorneys of Ortiz’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Mendell and Foley used DiFiore as their only witness in the case, and provided 32 images in court as evidence. The photographs were taken at the residences of Ramsden and King, following the attainment of search warrants.

The first 21 photos were of Ramsden’s apartment on Boylston Street in Boston. Many of the pictures included images of glass cylinders, jars and pipes, many filled with “a clear liquid substance, that we believe through our investigation to be GHB,” said DiFiore. These objects seized from Ramsden’s residence are currently being tested by the DEA. In Exhibits 8 and 9 (photographs), there were images of a safe and its interior, including glass jars filled with a clear substance, documents, cash, money bands to hold and separate bills, and a black zippered bag containing more cash. Also found were a money counting machine and a number of small, plastic bags containing a white substance thought to be Crystal Meth. A total of $45,300 was recovered in cash.

Photographs 22-32 taken from a search of King’s residence were very similar to those taken at Ramsden’s apartment, with many images of glass devices typically used to smoke narcotics, documents, plastic bags containing a white substance thought to be Crystal Meth, and two safes. Exhibit 26 featured a one gallon bottle holding the chemical analog used to manufacture GHB, and beside this bottle was a smaller jug containing a clear liquid substance.

Both resident searches were conducted by Boston Trooper and DiFiore’s partner in the case Robert Sara.

The prosecution used the physical evidence provided and supported by DiFiore in court to help support claims that along with possession, Ramsden and King gained profit by distributing Crystal Meth and GHB. Both Ramsden and King pled not guilty, and Judge M.J. Boal scheduled a future hearing for November 16.