Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Biochemist acquitted of synthesizing heroin Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 14:59:57 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION;AMERICAN SCENE;MIDWEST \HD Biochemist acquitted of synthesizing heroin \BY FROM WIRE DISPATCHES AND STAFF REPORTS \DT MINNEAPOLIS MINNEAPOLIS - A federal jury acquitted a former University of Minnesota biochemist accused of making deadly synthetic heroin for an international drug ring. John Wood, 54, wiped away tears of relief after the verdict was read Friday. "It was a fair trial," he said. "I don't have any bitter feelings at all." Mr. Wood said he was duped into making the illegal drug, fentanyl, by unscrupulous associates in Minnesota and Brazil. Four 1-liter bottles of fentanyl - with an estimated street value of $3 million - were found 2 1/2 years ago in the New Brighton apartment of convicted drug dealer Michael Ayd. Ayd and two co-conspirators plea bargained with authorities and testified against Mr. Wood. The prize-winning scientist from England has resigned from the university and now does cancer research in Hamburg, Germany. He would have faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM