macy network to the drug-running to the arms shipments to the murders—and for his work on behalf of the U.S. government.

“I am going to deny the request,” the judge finally said. “Noth- ing has been established that would override the strong interest that the defendant has in a public proceeding.”

And with that, the hearing began. Linda Marks called Special Agent Eric Stouch, from the DEA Special Operations Division, who entered in a suit, holding a pair of eyeglasses. Stouch testified suc- cinctly to the fact that Le Roux had cooperated voluntarily, that he’d been an eager participant in the sting operation. On cross- examination, Richman—hoping to establish that Le Roux had been so desperate for a deal that he had lied about Oz’s role—pressed Stouch on whether Le Roux had ever been promised that he wouldn’t be extradited to another country, or that he would avoid facing the death penalty. Stouch admitted that Le Roux had voiced con- cern about being extradited, but denied that the government had made him any assurances.

Richman then attempted to drive home another point. After the DEA had arrested Le Roux, he asked, wasn’t he then allowed to keep operating the same pharmacy network that the United States had sought for years to shut down?

“The Internet pharmacy was still operating, but was winding down,” Stouch said.

“And as part of that process of operating the pharmacy, he was continuing to transfer cash to pay salaries and pay doctors and so on, correct?” Richman asked.

“He was transferring cash to pay salaries.”

“And that was obviously with the consent of the U.S. govern- ment, correct?”

“Yes.”

“So during that period of time the U.S. government was operat- ing the Internet pharmacy, correct?”

Linda Marks objected, and it wasn’t hard to see why. If the gov- ernment was going to argue that RX Limited put its customers in danger, they would have to answer for why they had given Le