Federal Drug Agents Asked to Join Michael Jackson Death Probe
DEA division investigates pill mills, regulates prescription drug authority.
July 1, 2009— -- Federal drug agents have been asked to join the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, ABC News has learned. Until now, the probe into the pop star's death has been managed by the LAPD alone.
The Drug Enforcement Administration's diversion division, which looks into issues of doctor shopping, over shopping, and pill mills, and has regulatory authority over prescription drugs, is now involved with the investigation, two separate sources tell ABC News.Further details are expected to emerge.
The DEA issued an official statement on the investigation that shed little light onto any role they might play in assisting the LAPD.
"We routinely offer assistance to any agency regarding the Federal Controlled Substance act, however at this time we have nothing further to comment about the death of Michael Jackson," the statement said.
A number of prescriptions were found in the Jackson residence, ABC News has learned, that are part of the LAPD probe.
One of them is described as causing the user to enter "a dreamlike state."
The prescriptions under investigation by the LAPD include a number which are not "schedule" drugs, meaning they are non-controlled substances outside the DEA's regulatory authority.
The LAPD would not comment on the status of its probe.
Any comment on the drugs or cause of death will wait until the official coroners report is released, law enforcement officials have told ABC News.
The Jackson case has so far been riddled with questions about prescription drug abuse, and bio hazard bags, believed to contain hypodermic needles, were removed in a police search of his residence.
ABC News' The Blotter reported exclusively that Jackson was addicted to Oxycontin and Demerol.
Jackson was "heavily addicted" to the powerful pain killer Oxycontin and received "daily doses" of it and of another pain killer, Demerol, according to a senior law enforcement official briefed on the initial investigation of his death.
The Los Angeles police were told Jackson received an injection of Demerol one hour before his death, the official said.
Investigators are looking into the possibility of other medicines that may have been abused, including the possibilities of prescriptions from multiple doctors in multiple jurisdictions and possibly in multiple patient names.