A former attorney with the IRS' Office of Professional Responsibility pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Jack Vitayanon was arrested in February in Washington, D.C., on charges he conspired with people in Arizona and Long Island to distribute meth over a number of years.

Homeland Security Investigation special agents in New York intercepted a package bound from an associate of Vitayanon's in Arizona to an addressee in Long Island. In December 2016, agents set up a sting using that person, who communicated with Vitayanon via internet video chat and text messages to coordinate the purchase of more drugs.

Vitayanon then used Federal Express to ship an ounce of meth on consignment to the individual working with agents. The cooperator then sent Vitayanon $650 via a wire transfer to pay for the shipment, as well as $1,000 to the Arizona conspirator.

The sting continued, with Vitayanon later observed at his apartment by federal authorities in D.C. preparing more meth for another shipment, driving to the Federal Express store, and shipping the package to the cooperator in New York. He was arrested shortly thereafter.

Simon & Partners name attorney Bradley Simon represented Vitayanon. In an email, he said his client “wants to put this matter behind him.”

“His difficulties in this case arose from an addiction problem,” Simon stated. “He has accepted responsibility for his conduct and hopes to rebuild his life.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on the plea.

A former attorney with the IRS' Office of Professional Responsibility pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Jack Vitayanon was arrested in February in Washington, D.C., on charges he conspired with people in Arizona and Long Island to distribute meth over a number of years.

Homeland Security Investigation special agents in New York intercepted a package bound from an associate of Vitayanon's in Arizona to an addressee in Long Island. In December 2016, agents set up a sting using that person, who communicated with Vitayanon via internet video chat and text messages to coordinate the purchase of more drugs.

Vitayanon then used Federal Express to ship an ounce of meth on consignment to the individual working with agents. The cooperator then sent Vitayanon $650 via a wire transfer to pay for the shipment, as well as $1,000 to the Arizona conspirator.

The sting continued, with Vitayanon later observed at his apartment by federal authorities in D.C. preparing more meth for another shipment, driving to the Federal Express store, and shipping the package to the cooperator in New York. He was arrested shortly thereafter.

Simon & Partners name attorney Bradley Simon represented Vitayanon. In an email, he said his client “wants to put this matter behind him.”

“His difficulties in this case arose from an addiction problem,” Simon stated. “He has accepted responsibility for his conduct and hopes to rebuild his life.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on the plea.