A retired doctor's yacht became the scene of a shocking incident involving drugs and pornography before the authorities intervened and arrested him on suspicion of drug and gun charges, according to newly released police documents.
Scott Burke, 69, was released on $200,000 bail last week after his lawyer informed Plymouth Court that he had terminal stage four cancer and only a few months to live.
On September 5, authorities raided Burke's 82-foot-long yacht, named the JessConn, in Nantucket after a distressed woman on board reached out to a friend for help. According to a police warrant obtained by the Nantucket Current, the woman informed her friend that "they were doing drugs all weekend long and people on the boat had been making pornographic films." She expressed her desire to leave the boat before losing consciousness, prompting her male friend to contact the authorities and report a possible overdose.
The man informed the Nantucket Police Department that the boat contained ketamine, Adderall, ecstasy, and cocaine. Law enforcement sources previously revealed that several prostitutes were also found on the boat, although no charges have been filed against Burke in relation to these claims.
A police report stated that the boat was raided following reports of a distressed woman who felt unsafe and may have overdosed. Burke was subsequently charged with one count of trafficking a Class B drug, one count of possession to distribute a Class A drug, one count of possession of ammunition without a license, and four counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device.
According to an affidavit, Burke pleaded not guilty to the charges and exhibited "extremely uncooperative" behavior when police boarded the yacht. He was placed in handcuffs and detained as a result. Burke, a married father-of-two who previously practiced in Denver, Colorado, initially denied any knowledge of illegal drugs on the luxury boat. Both women on board also denied knowledge of the drugs, although one claimed to have a prescription for Adderall.
During the raid, authorities discovered 43 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of ketamine, a .380 pistol, three 30-round 9mm magazines, and a 12-round magazine in a 9mm pistol, according to the police report. Multiple rounds of ammunition were also found on the bedroom floor, with Burke allegedly admitting that the guns were his. He claimed to own the boat and possess a license to carry firearms, but the investigation revealed that his Florida carry license expired in 2022.
Burke is currently residing at the Ocean Reef Club, a private gated estate in Key Largo, Florida. The area is known for its opulent residences, with one six-bedroom, ten-bathroom Ocean Reef home currently listed for $35 million.
In a previous statement, the police revealed that a woman was taken to Nantucket Cottage Hospital on September 5 at 7:45 am for "medical assistance." As a result, the boat was identified and located within the Nantucket Harbor Anchorage. The owner of the boat, Burke, was subsequently arrested by the Nantucket Police Department for possession of a firearm without a license. The case remains under investigation.
During a hearing, Burke's attorney, Henry Brennan, who once represented local crime boss Whitey Bulger, informed the court that his client had an unspecified type of terminal cancer. Brennan argued that given Burke's clean record, the court should refrain from holding him in pretrial detention. "To have this man potentially spend the rest of his life waiting for a case in jail, to me, would be very, very tragic," the lawyer stated.
Burke, who owns a $2.3 million mansion in Englewood, Colorado, appears to have named the yacht after his children. He established a medical insurance company where both of his children work and seems to have owned several other vessels. He is also the manager of JessConn Charters, based in Florida, although it is unclear if he charged customers for travel on the yacht used in that venture. The vessel recently ran aground in Florida in May but escaped significant damage.
The Coast Guard Station Brant Point's executive petty officer, Jeff Wecal, confirmed that his crew is assisting the Nantucket Police Department in their investigation.
Designed by Jeff Leishman, the boat features four decks, each over 24 meters long. It includes three spacious guest cabins, an owner's cabin, a laundry room, a main saloon, a formal dining room, and even a hot tub. The yacht can accommodate up to eight guests and two crew members. It is registered in the Cayman Islands.
According to public records, Burke has a hearing scheduled in Nantucket for October. He is currently permitted to remain in Florida until then.
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