http://www.miami.com/herald/content/news/local/dade/digdocs/027165.htm Grand juror arrested after tipping off drug suspect; denies calling O.J. Simpson A federal grand juror has been arrested and charged with tipping off a target in a major Ecstasy drug ring investigation one week before the indictment was unsealed, two law enforcement sources told The Herald. As a result of the tip, investigators say, other targets of the probe were warned about the looming indictment. John Acosta, 31, admitted tipping off a woman, Zenaida Galvez, 35, who was subsequently arrested, but he denies he called former Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson, whose lawyer told reporters that he knew about the indictments the day before. Nevertheless, the sources say, Acosta's call to Galvez on Nov. 27 led to a chain of calls to other possible targets. ``Acosta advised Galvez that she and other co-defendants were named in a federal drug indictment that had been presented to the grand jury on Nov. 27, 2001,'' according to a complaint by FBI agent David Magnuson. The FBI found out after some of those indicted told agents that they had been expecting the government's arrival. One of those who got tipped off was a massage parlor owner who was recorded discussing Ecstasy sales with Simpson, law enforcement sources said. Simpson has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. On Friday, agents interviewed Acosta at his work and asked him if he warned anyone about the grand jury proceedings, which are secret until an indictment is made public. Acosta denied warning anyone, and was then arrested. According to agent Magnuson, only after Acosta was arrested and read his Miranda Rights against self-incrimination, did he acknowledge his error. ``After his arrest, Acosta spontaneously stated twice - he wanted to change his story,'' Magnuson wrote. Acosta is scheduled to appear this afternoon before a federal magistrate. He is charged with obstruction of justice and faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the sources, Acosta is friends with Galvez's boyfriend and allegedly tipped them off. Acosta was one of the grand jurors who listened to witnesses and taped conversations of a two-year probe into Ecstasy sales, theft of satellite television software and money laundering. Simpson had come into the radar of agents after he was captured on wiretaps talking to a massage parlor owner and major player in the alleged drug ring -- Andrew Anderson, 33, whose real name is Adrian Alwyn Burke -- about buying Ecstasy. Last week, Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, said outside Simpson's home the day of the raid that he had received a call alerting him of the predawn federal roundup. Galanter would not say if he had passed on the information to his client. Also indicted last week: alleged ringleader Carlos Braga, 34, of Brazil; John Thorburn, 32, of Miami Shores; Orlando Mena, 30, of Miami; Phillippe Gornail, 30, of Kendall; Susan Jimenez, 35, of Miami; Mark Nowakowski, 44, of Miami Beach and Toledo, Ohio.
