Press Releases

U.S. Attorney Distributes Money Seized During Drug Bust

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Lafayette, Louisiana…United States Attorney Donald W. Washington presented Equitable Sharing checks to various law enforcement agencies today totaling $22,420.80. These funds are provided by the Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Program after being seized in drug trafficking arrests and seizures.

The DOJ Asset Forfeiture Program has two primary goals. First, the program seeks to punish and deter criminal activity by depriving criminals of property used or acquired in an illegal manner. The second goal is to enhance cooperation among federal, state, and local enforcement agencies through the equitable sharing of assets seized and forfeited under federal law.

Lafayette Metro Narcotics will receive $14,013 and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office will receive $8,407.80 for their participation in a narcotics investigation, which led to the forfeiture of certain assets used to facilitate drug trafficking. These funds are provided to law enforcement agencies through the United States Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Equitable Sharing Program. This program enables state and local law enforcement agencies to receive a share of federally-forfeited assets proportional to an agency's investigative contribution to a successful forfeiture prosecution.

These asset forfeiture checks are the result of investigations into the distribution of gammabutyrolactone (GBL). On May 8, 2000, MALCOLM WAYNE CUTRER, a 29-year old Dallas resident, was in possession of GBL. CUTRER admitted that he had intensions of supplying the GBL to others for consumption in connection with weight-lifting activities.

GBL is a degreasing solvent or floor stripper mixed with drain cleaner. GBL is an analogue to Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB). When GBL is consumed, it converts to a substance that is indistinguishable from GHB in chemical composition and in effect upon the user.

Many weight lifters consume GBL because of its physiological effects, including relaxation and mild euphoria. GBL is also a date rape drug because of the mild euphoria and other side effects it causes on those who consume it.

The money seized from CUTRER were proceeds from his sale of GBL. CUTRER was sentenced in June 2003 to two years probation and a $3,000 fine.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Lafayette Resident agency, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, and the Lafayette Metro Narcotics Agency, was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Luke Walker, and the Judgment of Forfeiture was signed on the 23rd day of June 2003, by United States District Judge Rebecca Doherty.

United States Attorney Donald W. Washington commended the work of the officers and agents involved in the case, stating, “this program allows us to seize the fruits of crime, and to use these ill-gotten gains for future investigations to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations. The forfeited money will be used to provide additional training and equipment for law enforcement officers."

This and other press releases issued by the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana can be found at our website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/law.

Donald W. Washington
United States Attorney

337- 262-6618