JAZZY JUNKIES
Philip pal eyes rehab; drug duo gets makeover
THE DRUGGIE jazz musician arrested in the wake of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death pleaded for rehab Tuesday — as two others nabbed with him debuted their model makeovers while being dragged to court.
Juliana Luchkiw and Max Rosenblum, who were caught up in a raid related to Hoffman’s apparent overdose, were dressed in their finest duds as they were indicted in Manhattan Supreme Court on a misdemeanor cocaine possession charge.
It was a far cry from their grimy look the last time they appeared before a judge, a day after they were arrested in their NoHo apartment building.
Luchkiw donned a trim-fitting black suit and black leather boots while Rosenblum, seated next to her, chopped off his long-flowing hipster locks and sported a more stylish haircut.
The lovebirds quickly rushed out of the building — separately — with their parents and lawyers.
“Yes, he got a haircut,” Rosenblum’s attorney Daniel Hochheiser told reporters afterward.
Luchkiw’s attorney, Stephen Turano, said she’s doing well but did not elaborate.
Neither lawyer would say whether their clients, both 22, are seeking drug treatment. They have said their clients were not affiliated with the deceased actor.
A short time later in court, Robert Vineberg’s lawyer argued his client, a struggling jazz musician, has an out-of-control heroin habit and needs to go to rehab — not prison.
The lawyer for Vineberg — who lives in the same Mott St. building as Luchkiw and Rosenblum — is asking for a transfer to drug court because he said his client’s 10-bags-per-day dope problem is fueling the strungout saxophonist’s alleged drug dealing.
The motion asks the judge to transfer Vineberg’s felony drug case to what’s known as a “diversion” program.
If accepted, the pal of the late Oscar-winner would likely get the chance to plead to a reduced charge or have the case dismissed after a lengthy period of intensive therapy.
Prosecutors said 300 bags of heroin were found between Vineberg’s two apartments during his Feb. 4 arrest. Authorities said the sweep was part of a probe into the “Capote” actor’s death. Hoffman was discovered dead with a needle stuck in his arm in his $10,000-per-month West Village pad two days earlier.
Vineberg’s lawyer, Edward Kratt, called him “an accomplished musician” sician” for decades, but he’s been “a heroin addict during a significant period of time up until the present. “In recent years, Mr. Vineberg had increased his heroin intake to some 10 bags per day,” Kratt continued. “As a result, his musical career has foundered.”
Vineberg, 57, has “fallen into significant depression and neglected his work and family obligations” as a result of the “chronic and recurrent substance abuse” the lawyer added.
Justice Edward McLaughlin gave prosecutors time to respond in writing to the new request and adjourned the case to March 10.
Vineberg has pleaded not guilty to two counts of drug possession with intent to sell that carry up to 25 years in prison and another lower drug charge.
Vineberg had at least a dozen mu- sician pals present to support him. “We all have our demons,” said Vineberg’s musician friend of two decades, Kevin Tooley. Vineberg is a working musician who has played with Wyclef Jean and Amy Winehouse.
Vineberg, who is not charged with selling to Hoffman, is being held on a bail of $200,000 bond or $40,000 cash at Rikers Island but expects to be sprung this week, Kratt said.