Co-defendants in Pasco deputies drug case still in custody

TAMPA -- A federal judge set bail this morning for one man accused in a drug scheme with two former Pasco County deputies and continued until Friday a hearing on releasing another man.

Robert "Fat Bob" Caddick, 51, of Oviedo, and Kevin Massimino, 32, of Tampa, still remain in custody and will both return to court for a hearing Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Pizzo.

Caddick and Massimino are charged in a criminal complaint with former Pasco sheriff's deputy Don Riggans, 34. They are accused of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute the addictive painkiller hydrocodone. A separate criminal complaint charges former Pasco jail deputy Rodney Philon, 38, with conspiracy to distribute steroids.

Riggans and Philon were granted bail after court appearances Monday.

Pizzo ordered Massimino's release on $50,000 bail but ruled that it be secured by a home from Massimino's father and one Massimino owns with his fiance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Porcelli asked for a hearing before allowing the property to be used as collateral to determine whether illegally obtained money paid for the homes.

Pizzo delayed a decision on Caddick's bail because a Drug Enforcement Administration agent testified today that Caddick was secretly recorded in a conversation asking about having his wife killed. She's never heard the allegations, and the judge wanted her to know to determine if she would still allow her husband to live with her if he's granted bail.

Mark Ciaravella, Caddick's attorney, vehemently denied that Caddick ever seriously considered hiring someone to murder his wife when the couple had marital problems. He said the conversation arose at a meeting with Massimino and a confidential informant, where the three men were simply letting off steam about their relationships.

"He never had a plot to kill his wife," Ciaravella said.

He said the confidential informant initiated the conversation. Nicki Hollmann, the DEA agent, said that during the recorded conversation, Caddick asked how much it would cost if he wanted a "permanent solution" to his problem. The confidential informant first said $100,000 then reduced the price to $50,000 if the two had a "good drug relationship," Hollmann said.

Prosecutors also cast doubt on the working relationship between Caddick and his son, Steve, a pharmacist.

Robert Caddick is described as the chief financial officer of a pharmacy called Medipharm. DEA agents raided it in late 2006, labeled it a health risk and pulled its license to operate. Investigators said Caddick used his relationships with pharmacies to steal prescription drugs, including hydrocodone and Xanax.

Hollmann said Caddick told a confidential informant that he and his son could manufacture some of the drugs.

Steve Caddick is a pharmacist at Westchase Compounding Pharmacy. Hollmann said DEA agents inspected the site Wednesday and found nothing wrong. They're now reviewing his records.

"His son is completely legitimate," Ciaravella said. "It's just unfortunate that he's being talked about like this." 

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer