March 21, 2006
 
DiTrapano Released on Bond Following Drug Arrest; Charleston Attorney is Randy Moss’ Agent
 
By HNN Staff
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- Louis Dante DiTrapano, 43, and his wife, Teri A. DiTrapano, 46, who were arrested Tuesday March 14, 2006 in St. Petersburg, FL. on felony charges of possession of crack cocaine, were released on bond last week.
 
Teri DiTrapano had a $5,000 bond posted for her by a bondsman on Thursday, March 16. Dante DiTrapano had his $5,000 bond posted on March 17 on the condition that he be taken for treatment. He was released to HealthCare Connections of Tampa.
 
The couple and three people from the area were arrested about 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, March 14 at the St. Petersburg Hilton Hotel. The other three people -- Glinder Cecil, James D. Harper and James A. Lockett -- also were arrested for possession and a variety of other charges.
 
According to its Web site, Health Care Connections "has specialized in the treatment of impaired professionals" since 1995. The site says the facility provides care to both in-state and national referral sources for impaired doctors, pharmacists, veterinarians, dentists, nurses, other related health care professionals and attorneys.
 
According to police and press reports, officers were called to DiTrapano’s room due to a disturbance. Officers found 19 grams of powder cocaine and 73 rocks of crack. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday evening, Teri DiTrapano remained in the Pinellas County jail awaiting the posting of a $5,000 bond. WSAZ TV reported that her husband had been released.
 
DiTrapano, who has been an agent for MU standout wide receiver Randy Moss during his college and pro football careers, apparently went to college in Florida. The Charleston, W.Va., attorney had apparently rented three rooms at the Hilton for a one-night stay.
 
“We were called at 3:50 p.m. by hotel management who were complaining of a disturbance,” St. Petersburg police spokesman told the San Francisco Chronicle. “He was raising a ruckus in the hallway because he couldn’t get into his room. He apparently had forgotten his cardkey. This is when security and management came up to see what was going on.”
 
According to the police report, three other St. Petersburg individuals with “well known” drug histories were also arrested at DiTrapanos' room. The media release from the St. Petersburg police indicated that “the room was full of paraphernalia and crack cocaine… on the bed, on the bureau, on the table. They must have walked on some of it because it was crushed on the floor.”
 
Tim DiPiero, an attorney at the Charleston firm of DiTrapano, Barrett & DiPiero, said in a release that “we were saddened to learn today that our colleague was arrested for possession of an illegal substance. Dante has been battling depression over two tragedies that occurred this past year. We don’t know the facts of the arrest, but we hope and pray that Dante will get the help he needs.”
 
Moss, who with assistance from DiTrapano’s firm worked past criminal charges to star at Marshall and play for the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders, issued a statement through DiPiero:
 
“Virtually everyone has a loved one, a family member or close friends who finds himself or herself in trouble and needs help. You’ve got to support a friend and so I’m sticking by my friend and I’ll support him and his family as he gets help battling his problem.”
 
At least Moss is standing by a man who has helped keep his own legal tussles --- including marijuana use -- at misdemeanor levels.
 
Moss was fined $10,000 for faux mooning in a January 2005 playoff game. At the time Moss said, “What’s ten grand to me?” Dante DiTrapano was quoted then as saying, “If you can’t have freedom of expression on the football field, come on.” At the time, Moss had signed an eight-year $75 million contract.
 
In a 2002 incident, Moss escaped felony charges in a Minneapolis for allegedly pushing a traffic officer a half-block with his car. The officer tried to block Moss from making an illegal turn; Moss slowly pushed the woman along the street. He stopped when she fell.
 
Moss also had a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle. However, DiTrapano claimed the weed did not belong to Moss, who at the time apparently had five cars. Four other people had driven his Lexus before the Minneapolis incident. Before that, Moss squirted a referee with a water bottle in 1999. During an August 8, 2005 interview with HBO, Moss said, “I have used, you know, marijuana…since I’ve been in the league…but as far as abusing it and you know letting it take over me, I don’t do that, no.”
 
DiTrapano came to Moss’ defense claiming that the “dying” network HBO had “maliciously couched his remarks in a manner that is confusing and leaves room for negative interpretation. Randy is not in the NFL substance abuse program.”
 
Before “walking on” at Marshall he had his scholarship to Notre Dame revoked after he served 30 days in jail for beating a high school classmate. Florida State offered him a scholarship and redshirted him his freshman year. However, Moss was kicked off the team for smoking pot. He served 30 days in jail.
 
Ironically, the St. Petersburg Police stated that DiTrapano said the party was a “last hurrah” before checking himself in for drug rehabilitation.