Democrat Donor predator before Epstein .
Ed Buck is a former prominent California Democratic political donor and activist who was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for running a "drug den" in his West Hollywood apartment, which resulted in the fatal methamphetamine overdoses of two Black men, Gemmel Moore in 2017 and Timothy Dean in 2019.
While some media commentary has grouped Buck alongside Jeffrey Epstein as examples of wealthy, connected individuals involved in criminal sexual behavior, they are distinct cases with different legal outcomes and criminal acts.
Key Facts About the Ed Buck Case
Conviction (2021): A federal jury found Buck guilty of nine felonies, including two counts of providing methamphetamine resulting in death, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and enticement to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution.
Method of Operation: Prosecutors described Buck as a "predator" who preyed on vulnerable, often homeless, Black gay men, enticing them with drugs and money to travel to his home, where he injected them with drugs, often without their consent or while they were unconscious.
Deaths and Overdoses: Gemmel Moore (26) died in July 2017, and Timothy Dean (55) died in January 2019. A third man overdosed in September 2019 but survived, leading to Buck's arrest.
Political Ties: Buck donated over $500,000 to Democratic causes and politicians, including Gavin Newsom and various local officials. Following his arrest, many politicians donated his contributions to charity.