By KWGS News
Tulsa, OK – U.S. Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that two men have pleaded guilty
in federal court for trafficking in what are commonly called "club drugs."
Lewis Aaron Nixon, III, 27, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty today to Possession of
Benzylpiperazine. He will be sentenced on June 8, 2010. Lorenzo Cottrell Marable, 24, of
Oak Park, Michigan, pleaded guilty to the same offense on February 8, 2010, and will be
sentenced on March 11, 2010. Another co-defendant is scheduled for a court appearance on
March 9, 2010. They were indicted by the Grand Jury in January 2010.
The defendants came to the attention of law enforcement on December 15, 2009,
when they were stopped for a traffic violation by an OHP trooper on I-44 near Vinita. They
were traveling in a rental 2009 Dodge Avenger driven by an individual with a suspended
license. Upon further investigation by the trooper it was learned that none of the four
occupants of the vehicle had a valid drivers license. The trooper's canine unit alerted during
an open area sniff and led to a search of the vehicle. The search revealed approximately
6,000 pills that were tested and found to be Benzylpiperazine (BZP), a Scheduled I controlled
substance, meaning it has high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Other more
common names for the drug on the street is "Molly" or "Legal E" or "Legal X." BZP is
commonly used as a "club" or "designer"drug promoted to youth at raves (all-night dance
parties). It has euphoric, stimulant properties similar to amphetamine. This is a case of first
impression in this federal jurisdiction, the Northern District of Oklahoma, as this particular
drug has not been seen by law enforcement previously.
The case was investigated by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Drug
Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert T. Raley is representing the
government in the case.