Four Heroin Dealers Arrested Following Seymour Hoffman Death Investigation


Three men and a woman suspected of supplying the heroin that killed actor Philip Seymour Hoffman were arrested in downtown Manhattan. Hoffman was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Feb. 2nd of an apparent heroin overdose.

Philip Seymour Hoffman/ Flickr CC
 Following through on tips from an informant, cops arrested the four suspected dealers and seized 350 bags of heroin. The suspects are Thomas Cushman, 48; Robert Vineberg, 57; Juliana Luchkiw, 22; and Max Rosenblum, 22. All four lived in apartments in the same building on the fourth and fifth floors. They have been indicted for felony possession of heroin with intent to sell. According to eyewitnesses, nearly 40 to 50 policemen entered the building for the busts. They emerged with two handcuffed suspects.

Hoffman was found dead wearing a t-shirt and shorts, along with a needle still inside his left arm. In his apartment, police found 70 bags of heroin. Hoffman was found dad by screenwriter David Bar Katz, a close friend who had gone over to check up on him.

According to the police, Hoffman withdrew $1,200 from an ATM around the corner from his apartment at a supermarket the night before his death.  A witness claims Hoffman was talking with two men carrying messenger bags. Hoffman was clean for 23 years until the last year. The mother of his three children, Mimi O’Donnell, wanted Hoffman to get help. He entered into rehab a year ago.

Three cellphones belonging to the suspected drug dealers were found to have Hoffman’s number on them. “Just for the record, this case and the charges against Mr. Vineberg have absolutely nothing to with the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman,“ said Vineberg’s lawyer, Edward Kratt.

A funeral has been arranged for Friday, with a memorial service later in the month. Hoffman is best known for his Oscar winning performance in Capote, playing the famous author. His filmography includes Boogie Nights, Almost Famous, The Big Lebowski, and The Master. A definite cause of death for Hoffman has yet to be determined.

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