REVEALED: Retired doctor, 69, who was busted with guns, drugs and prostitutes on his yacht in Nantucket has terminal cancer ‘and is living out his last days partying’
- Doctor Scott Anthony Burke, 69, of Colorado, has been charged with possession of a firearm, Class A and Class B drugs – to which he has pleaded not guilty
- The retired surgeon was arrested on his yacht in Nantucket Harbor last Tuesday when cops boarded the vessel after receiving a call about a overdose
- He was busted for having drugs, guns, and sex workers on the yacht. His lawyer claims he has Stage 4 cancer – an assertion that saw his client avoid a jail stint
A retired surgeon arrested aboard his luxury yacht last week after a police raid has terminal cancer, his lawyer has claimed – after cops found him partying with an assortment of ‘guns, drugs and prostitutes’ aboard the vessel.
Previously practicing in Colorado, 69-year-old Scott Burke had his 80-foot stormed in Massachusetts’ Nantucket Harbor this past Tuesday – and was hit with a series of charges as a result.
Hit with felonies like possession a firearm without a permit and possession and trafficking Class A and B drugs, he was released on bail to the tune of $200,000 on Thursday, after pleading not guilty to the drug and weapons charges.
A new report out of the tiny New England isle claims that arrangement was only offered after attorney Henry Brennan – who once represented local crime boss Whitey Bulger – went up to bat for his affluent client using a bizarre defense.
The argument, The Nantucket Current reports, saw Brennan claim that Burke has an unspecified type of terminal cancer, now stage 4 and has not much longer to live.
After the claims saw the doctor temporarily released, they were later echoed by a captain who regularly works the harbor – though the account was somewhat dubious and raised more questions than answers.
Speaking to Nantucket District Judge James Sullivan on Thursday, Brennan reportedly revealed Burke’s alleged affliction, arguing that given Burke’s lack of a record, the court should opt against holding him for pretrial detention.
‘To have this man potentially spend the rest of his life waiting for a case in jail, to me, would be very, very tragic,’ the lawyer argued, per a Current reporter present for the proceedings.
Aside from that bombshell – which Brennan elected to not elaborate on – Brennan spent much of the hearing describing Burke’s past, particularly alleged acts of philanthropy the Denver doctor had never sought recognition for.
Among the assertions that Brennan aired to tout his client’s humanitarian nature were that he was the second doctor on the ground following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and that he performed over 110 surgeries while there – mostly on children.
He also touted Burke’s bedside manner during his 35 years as a surgeon in The Mile High City, claiming the doctor had personal empathy for his patients – sometimes so intense he would opt against giving surgeries not in the best interest of the patient, even if it would make him a quick buck.
He added how Burke acquired wealth during his years as a medical professional, but would regularly give back to colleges and scholarships – ‘not asking for a plaque, not asking for an article… [but] because his property as he sees it is on loan, not his.’
The captain, who asked to remain anonymous, then told the Post he recently had given a ride to two people delivering ‘cancer medication’ to Burke’s boat, the Jess Conn, the day after the doctor was cuffed last week.
‘I took out somebody who claimed to be a friend of the owner. He claimed to be bringing somebody — and I now know it’s the owner — his cancer medication to him,’ said the captain, who asked to remain anonymous.
The captain added he people he gave a ride to then appeared to return with ‘more stuff than they went out with.’
Earlier this week Burke was charged with possessing a firearm without a permit, having ammunition, as well as possession and trafficking of Class A and B drugs.
Authorities boarded his boat named the Jess Conn in the harbor of ritzy island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The 70-ft motor yacht is registered in the Cayman Islands.
Pictures obtained by DailyMail.com appear to show him spending the holiday season with his wife Ellen, 65, and two children, Jessica and Connor aboard a similar boat in 2017 – also called the Jess Conn.
Burke, was arraigned on Wednesday in Nantucket District Court in connection with the incident after authorities boarded Tuesday morning following a call about a woman who had possibly overdosed and wanted to leave the vessel.
Investigators found cocaine, ketamine, and an array of weapons and ammo in the main floor bedroom.
There was also a loaded gun rested on the bookshelf and a plastic bag of cocaine on the nightstand.
Burke claimed he has licenses for the guns but authorities said it had been issued outside Florida and expired last year.
In a statement, Nantucket Police confirmed that the woman was taken to Nantucket Cottage Hospital after reports that she needed ‘medical assistance’ on Tuesday at 7.45am.
They added: ‘As a result of this information, the boat was identified and located within the Nantucket Harbor Anchorage.
‘Authorities responded to the boat and located the involved woman and identified the owner who was also onboard.
‘The owner of the boat was arrested by Nantucket Police Department for one count of Possession of a Firearm without a license. This case remains under investigation at this time.’
Burke has also been charged with one count of trafficking a Class B drug, one count of possession to distribute a Class A drug, one count of possession of ammunition without a license and four counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device.
Law enforcement sources told the Nantucket Current that sex workers were discovered aboard the boat during the raid.
Burke, who also owns a $2.3million mansion in Englewood, Colorado, appears to have named the vessel after his children.
The retired doctor, who set up a medical insurance company where both his children work, appears to have previously owned several other crafts.
He is also the manager of JessConn Charters – based in Florida – though it is unclear how much or if he was charging customers to travel on the vessel.
The Coast Guard and Nantucket Police launched a probe after a woman was taken from Burke’s vessel after a ‘wellness check’.
The Jess Conn arrived in Nantucket Harbor on August 23 after a voyage from Newport, Rhode Island.
Law enforcement sources confirmed that other contraband was found alongside the guns, drugs and prostitutes, but did not go into further details.
It recently ran aground in Florida in May, but appears to have escaped without significant damage in the incident.
Coast Guard Station Brant Point’s executive petty officer Jeff Wecal confirmed that his crew is assisting the Nantucket Police Department in its investigation.
The boat was designed by Jeff Leishman, and boasts four decks of over 24 meters each.
It has three large guest cabins, an owner’s cabin, a laundry room, as well as a main saloon and formal dining room.
The yacht also has a hot tub on board, and can house up to eight guests as well as accommodation for two crew members.
