VoIP pioneer faces drug charges

Scott Petrack, who was active in early development of IP telephony, faces Boston drug charges after a routine traffic stop that ended with hazardous-materials crews crawling over his car as police blocked off a busy street.

Boston Police report stopping Petrack, 46, of Brookline, Mass., shortly after 7 p.m. yesterday near the Brookline line. Police say Petrack was driving with a suspended license and they asked him to step out of the car. During a search, officers found two possible crack pipes and, when they asked him if he had any drugs in the car:

... Suspect replied, "there is none on me, but there's some stuff in my bag." Officers then conducted an inventory search of the motor vehicle. After observing a number of items (plastic bags, pipes, rubber tubing, bottles of unknown liquids, ice colored rock substances) consistent with items found in a methamphetamine lab, officers decided to call the Boston Police and Boston Fire Hazmat Units. ...

They determined Petrack was not in possession of a mobile meth lab but instead "a collection of designer drugs." He now faces three charges of possession of various drugs with intent to distribute.

Petrack held key positions at both VocalTec and eDial (Alcatel bought eDial in 2004 and made Petrack a divisional CEO).

Petrack helped found the VoIP Forum and was active in IETF VoIP standards work. He also holds a doctorate in mathematics from Oxford.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office, Petrack pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today in Roxbury District Court. Judge Edward Redd set bail at $2,100 cash. Contacted by the Boston Herald, Petrack declined to comment.

• VoIP / Convergence