Who Is Robert (Aaron) Vineberg? 4 Arrested Related To Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Apparent Heroin Overdose

Robert Vineberg, a jazz musician who has performed with David Bowie and who goes by the name Robert Aaron, was arrested along with three other people in connection with Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman’s apparent heroin overdose.

The New York Police Department reportedly received a tip that three men and a woman were dealing heroin out of a city apartment, according to ABC News. After investigators received search warrants, they discovered more than 350 bags of heroin in a Motts Street apartment, the news site said.

The connection the four people have to Hoffman is unclear. However, bags with the “Ace of Spades” logo, like the ones found in the late actor’s possession, were not discovered in the Mott’s Street apartment.

Police are currently testing the heroin found in the Mott's Street apartment, ABC News wrote, to determine its potency and find out if it’s laced with any other substances. Hoffman’s autopsy results have not been released, but investigators are wondering whether the heroin he apparently used was mixed with fentanyl, a potent synthetic morphine that has been connected to 22 suspected overdose deaths in western Pennsylvania.

As reported by ABC News, Max Rosenbloom and Juliana Luchkiw, both 22, were charged with criminal use of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Vineberg, 57, and Thomas Cushman, 48, received harsher charges. Both men were charged with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance and Vineberg received an additional charge for criminal use of drug paraphernalia.

Vineberg was born in Canada and came to New York in the 1970s, Starcasm wrote. He’s best known for playing the saxophone, and has performed with artists such as David Bowie, Paul Simon, Wyclef Jean, Tom Jones and the late Amy Winehouse. He has also performed as a vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist and flutist.

The musician was reportedly “discovered” by Bowie and performed on Bowie's “Let’s Dance” album, according to report cited by the news site. The story on Vineberg was published in 2010, the year his most recent album, “Trouble Man,” was released. Perez Hilton wrote that when Vineberg was asked if he ever dealt drugs to Hoffman, he replied: "No, I did not."

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