Florida Yachtsman Faces Drug and Gun Charges Amid Terminal Illness
A 69-year-old Florida yachtsman, Dr. Scott Anthony Burke, recently found himself in a legal whirlwind. Last week, he was apprehended with over 40 grams of cocaine and 14 grams of ketamine aboard his boat. The backdrop of this incident was a party on his yacht, which was further complicated by his terminal cancer diagnosis, as stated by his lawyer.
Burke’s legal troubles began when police responded to a report of a possible overdose involving a woman on his vessel. Inside the bedroom with the woman, officers discovered cocaine and an unlicensed pistol. Subsequent investigations, conducted under a search warrant, uncovered a substantial quantity of drugs and another unlicensed firearm.
Burke’s attorney, Henry Brennan, vehemently denied additional allegations from an anonymous source claiming that prostitutes were on board, labeling them as “disgusting” slander.
The woman on board was identified as a friend of Burke’s hired captain and a staff member. According to Brennan, the yacht is quite spacious and comes equipped with a captain, staff, a cook, and other personnel who serve various roles, including waiters and cleaners.
The incident unfolded when a concerned individual called the non-emergency dispatch line, prompting a response to Burke’s yacht, the Jess Conn. The vessel had been conspicuously anchored in Nantucket Harbor for several days following Burke’s arrest.
Upon entering the master bedroom, first responders spotted a bag of cocaine on the nightstand and a loaded pistol on a bookshelf, as detailed in the incident report. Subsequently, with a search warrant in hand, the police seized 43.4 grams of cocaine and 14.1 grams of ketamine.
Burke and his attorney were not immediately available for comment, leaving many questions unanswered.
During his bail hearing, Burke’s lawyer highlighted his client’s humanitarian efforts, citing that he was one of the first international doctors to arrive in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, performing over 100 surgeries. However, the current situation has placed him under scrutiny, facing a dozen gun and drug charges. He was released on $200,000 bail.
Although reports suggest the presence of prostitutes on board, police have not confirmed these claims, and court records do not reflect any related charges against Burke. The validity of Burke’s handgun license was also questioned, as it was found to be expired and invalid in Massachusetts.
Dr. Scott Anthony Burke, a retired Florida surgeon, now faces a complex legal battle, leaving many aspects of this ongoing investigation yet to be revealed.