Popular Circuit-Party DJ Gets Busted On Drug Charges

Popular DJ faces meth charges

Rob Harris accused of conspiring to distribute drugs

Robert Harris, a popular local DJ, was arrested last month and faces charges of conspiring to possess and distribute 50 grams of crystal meth, according to police sources.

An Oct. 16 affidavit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia spells out the charges against Robert H. Harris of T Street, N.W., though an exact address wasn’t given. Harris spins at Apex and Cobalt and was voted “favorite DJ” by Blade readers for three consecutive years from 2003 to 2005.

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to the Blade that the man named in the affidavit is the local DJ. Attempts to contact Harris were unsuccessful. Harris’ public defender, Geremy Kamens, declined to comment.

A motion to extend filing the indictment against Harris was signed by both his attorney and U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg. It gives the court until Jan. 11 to indict Harris, which extends the 30-day limit from the time a defendant is arrested until formal charges are filed. Harris was arrested on Oct. 16, court papers said.

The motion said concerned parties are exploring a pre-indictment plea as the reason the delay was requested. Officials in the U.S. District Court office confirmed that the motion to extend the period for indictment was approved.

A five-page affidavit against Harris was prepared by Brian Miers, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. It indicates Harris was cooperative with federal investigators upon his arrest. Among Miers’ findings as reported in the affidavit:

Around Oct. 12, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego Field Division arrested Paul Latiff at the San Diego International Airport and seized about seven ounces of a meth mixture from him.

Latiff told the agents he frequently went to San Diego to purchase drugs for himself and others.

Latiff told DEA agents he had sent a package to Robert Harris of Washington, D.C., and provided them with a New York Avenue address and a tracking number.
Agents intercepted the package the same day from Federal Express at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The name and address were as Latiff had indicated to agents.

Law enforcement K-9s trained to detect illegal narcotics indicated the presence of drugs in the package. It was opened the next day and found to contain a meth mix weighing about 3 ounces (or 84 grams).

On Oct. 15, agents delivered the package to Harris while undercover to the New York Avenue address, which houses the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Harris was arrested upon taking possession of the package.

Harris told agents he’d known Latiff for about eight years and had bought illegal drugs from him before on at least six occasions.

Harris consented to having agents search his T Street, N.W. residence where they found and seized additional drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Miers said he suspects Harris intended to distribute the meth.

DJ Rob Harris has been featured at many popular D.C. area events, including Pride and Cherry.

Joey-O, a DJ and manager at Apex, said he was unaware of Harris facing drug charges and that, as far as he knew, Harris was still on the DJ roster at the club.

Dave Perruzza, manager of Cobalt, referred the Blade to Jason Royce, who oversees the DJs there but Royce couldn’t be reached for comment.

The Blade profiled Harris in 2002 after his first “Best of Gay D.C.” award. Harris claimed to be 30 at the time and a Chicago native. He told the Blade he’d been in the U.S. Navy where he became an electronics technician, was stationed for two years in the Persian Gulf and spent two years in San Diego before coming to Washington where he spent five years working as an audio-visual director at the White House under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

He started mixing tapes and CDs for friends but eventually mastered the craft enough to go professional. He once worked as a DJ for a national dinner for Human Rights Campaign and has also spun at Rehoboth Beach, the Cherry benefit circuit party, Capital Pride and several local clubs.

Source [Washington Blade]