July 3, 2009
Bruce Zaccaria continues to be improperly detained without bail in the Joe Corley Detention Facility after his arrest in the Texas steroid bust codenamed Operation Pharmacia Juicy Fruit according to his lawyer Trent Gaither. Zaccaria was charged with one count of “conspiracy to manufacture/possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids” with a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison.
The United States Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley refused to release Zaccaria on bail due to “clear and convincing evidence exists” that he is a “danger to the community”. Magistrate Botley further stated that “no conditions or combination of conditions… would secure the safety of the community” if Zaccaria is released.
The sole stated reason for Bruce Zaccaria’s detention was based on the allegation that he bought and distributed approximately 250 vials of anabolic steroids to bodybuilders who were members at 24 Hour Fitness. Who knew that steroid-using bodybuilders made 24 Hour Fitness, or any commercial gym for that matter, so dangerous for the community at large?
Attorney R. Trent Gaither suggests that the government may have arbitrarily and capriciously, in violation of the Bail Reform Act, detained Zaccaria while inexplicably releasing most of his co-defendants indicted on similar, multiple or much more serious charges, including those who sold more dangerous drugs such as MDMA and hydrocodone .
As of this writing, Zaccaria is one of only five who have not been released on bond of some sort. For example, Charles Brock Falkenhagen is charged in 44 counts, including at least four different kinds of drugs, with exposure of well over ten years. Yet, he has been released on a $75,000 unsecured bond. Several of those charged with counts subject to ten or twenty years are likewise released on unsecured bonds. There was no evidence presented that would distinguish Zaccaria as being inherently more dangerous than the co-defendants, especially those charged with more serious crimes, subject to greater prison exposure, or who were more actively involved.
Disparity is an issue at sentencing, and should be a factor to consider in pre-trial detention. Upon what theory is lodged and explained the notion that the alleged kingpin of the organization, who arguably is subject to about 500 years in prison, less dangerous than one whose maximum exposure is 5 years? This is, of course, not limited to just Falkenhagen. One can go down the list and easily come to the Alice in Wonderland-ish conclusion that the defendant who has among the least exposure is somehow considered by the government to be the most dangerous, and the individual who has, under the government theory, demonstrated his capacity for all kinds of evil doings, yet is apparently not all that dangerous..
Bruce Zaccaria was one of FOUR defendants ONLY charged with ONE count of “conspiracy to manufacture/possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids” in the 46 count Falkenhagen indictment. The other three co-defendants facing identical steroid-related charges are NPC Texas Chairman Lee Thompson, NPC bodybuilder Bryan Barth, and NPC bodybuilder Brandon George. Thompson was quickly released on $50,000 unsecured bond and Barth and George were each promptly released on $75,000 unsecured bond. They remain free while awaiting trial.
June 27, 2009
NPC Texas Chairman Lee Thompson was found in possession of “large quantities of different types of anabolic steroids” when he was arrested on May 25, 2009 according to federal prosecutors. Fort Bend County Sheriff Deputies arrested Thompson after a federal grand jury indicted him on steroid conspiracy charges for his alleged involvement with the “Falkenhagen” group.
Chris Downey, the attorney for Lee Thompson, dismissed the government’s characterization of the “large quantities” of steroids in his client’s possession as inappropriate. Downey argued that the quantity of steroids found was “consistent with personal use” IF all the steroids that were expired and therefore unsuitable for use were EXCLUDED.
The Government has alleged that the defendant was in possession of “large quantities” of anabolic steroids at the time of his arrest. While defendant has not yet completed the process of discovery in this matter, defendant has a good faith reason to believe that a review of the substances to which the government refers would reveal that some of the items were not suitable for use as they had expired. Furthermore, the quantity remaining would constitute an amount consistent with personal use and is not properly characterized as “large quantities”.
The new details in the Lee Thompson case were made public when Downey requested permission for his client to travel outside the United States. Thompson and his fiancee had made extensive plans for their wedding on the Carribbean island of St. Lucia on July 4, 2009. However, as a condition of Thompson’s release on a $50,000 unsecured bond, Thompson had to surrender his passport and was prohibited from traveling outside the United States. Read more
June 27, 2009
Anabolic steroid possession for personal use is not criminalized in the Republic of Ireland but steroid trafficking is illegal. Michael Kehoe of Ireland, a successful entrepreneur in the local fitness industry, was fined €9,000 after he pleaded guilty to three counts of “supplying a medicinal substance other than as prescribed” in June 2009; Kehoe was busted in possession of almost 80,000 tablets including several different types of anabolic steroids, ephedrine and clenbuterol (aka “angel dust”) over five years earlier on March 25 2004. Kehoe discussed his past involvement with steroids and bodybuilding yesterday on Boards.ie under the handle “MickK”.
I was big into bodybuilding when I was alot younger, I have talked openly about it on boards a few times in the past. I regrettably started taking steroids when I was 17 years old and this incident took place when I was 21 years old. I am 27 now and have thankfully built a business doing what I love. I think we all know what goes on in bodybuilding and I would obviously not condone cheating in sports but in bodybuilding they are not banned. Either way it is a long time in my past now.
Defense attorney Peter Keane attributed Kehoe’s to his involvement with a “culture of steroid abuse” arising from his struggles with muscle dysmorphia. Keane maintained that the steroids and bodybuilding drugs were intended for his client’s personal use rebutting Liam Wright of the Irish Medicines Board testimony that the steroids represented a “commercial quantity” likely intended for distribution to athletes in gyms and sporting leagues. Read more
June 26, 2009
Anabolic steroid possession for personal use is technically legal in Canada although a steroid user lacking a medical prescription could have the drug seized. Only steroid trafficking, steroid manufacturing and steroid importation are illegal under Canadian law. The penalties for steroid importation are not always particularly severe in the absence of evidence of distribution.
S. Satir, Ph.D. of Canada, a civil engineer and top amateur bodybuilder, was fined $1000 after he pleaded guilty to one charge of “failing to report imported goods” in May 2009. The Crown dropped one charge of “smuggling prohibited goods” as part of the plea agreement.
Satir was caught in possession of approximately 26,000 tablets consisting of six different types of steroids and five different bodybuilding ancillary drugs on February 4, 2009. Customs officials at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport discovered the drugs repackaged in supplement bottles and a wooden backgammon set in Satir’s luggage. Satir was returning home to Canada on a flight from the United States after visiting Turkey for two months (”Bodybuilder fined $1,000 for trying to bring steroids, other pills into country,” May 27).
Mr. Satir told investigators that he had purchased the drugs in Turkey for $2,000.
“He advised that he had obtained the pills for his own personal use, and the Crown has no evidence to the contrary,” federal prosecutor Suhanya Edwards told the court. Read more
June 24, 2009
Florida law enforcement officials are clearly concerned about the middle-aged European men on hormone replacement therapy. A 45-year old German national flying into the Southwest Florida International Airport was arrested on June 23, 2009 after federal agents discovered a therapeutic dosage of anabolic steroids in his luggage.
A United States Customs and Border Protection agent searched Francesco Gigliotti, of Cologne Germany, upon his arrival at the Florida airport. Lee County Port Authority reported that the customs agent discovered a single 2-mL vial of nandrolone decanoate and a 250-mg/ml ampoule of testosterone enanthate along with syringes and needles for two injections in his bag (”Man arrested for smuggling steroids into RSW,” June 24).
The small dosage of androgens for a middle-aged man traveling overseas from the European Union was clearly consistent with therapeutic use. U.S. Customs officials and Fort Lee County law enforcement are taking the threat of middle-aged men on hormone therapy flying into the United States from Europe very seriously. Read more
June 18, 2009
The Calhoun-Cleburne County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested three individuals after a six-month investigation into steroid distribution at Dynabody Fitness, a commercial gym in Oxford, Alabama. The task force seems to be taking advantage of federal funds to expand their traditional war on drugs to include anabolic steroids (”3 arrested in steroid bust at fitness gym,” June 18).
Lt. Chris Roberson said Wednesday the owner, Cooper Freeman of Oxford, was arrested and charged with three counts of distribution of a controlled substance and several counts of possession of controlled substances.
Roberson said the gym manager, Billy Cole of Saks, was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime and possession of a controlled substance and Freeman’s wife, Amanda, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley awarded a $135,000 federally-funded grant to the Calhoun-Cleburne County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force on November 25, 2008 to help fund “undercover operations and investigations of drug dealers”.
The federal funds were made available through the Department of Justice thanks to H.R. 2764 (”Consolidated Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2008″); Congressman Mike Rogers from Alabama characterized the funding as one of his top homeland security priorities for Eastern Alabama. However, Congressman Rogers seemed to think the funds would be used to rid the communities of methamphetamines instead of steroids.
It is unclear how steroids represent a threat to homeland security in spite of assertions by the United States Customs that steroids fund “terrorism, death, and addiction around the world”.
Alabama Governor Riley justified the grant due to the direct relationship between drugs and violent crime; but it seems unlikely that Governor Riley had steroids in mind when he awarded the grant Read more
June 17, 2009
The arrests of Mr. New Zealand and IFBB pro bodybuilder Marc Rainbow and amateur bodybuilder Andrew Lent in unrelated steroid cases have prompted concern among anti-doping officials that bodybuilding is the “supply network” for anabolic steroids in mainstream sports. Graeme Steel of Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) blamed bodybuilders for the spread of steroids in sports. There has been no reported evidence to substantiate the assertion that recently seized steroids were intended for New Zealand athletes Read more
June 8, 2009
NPC Oklahoma bodybuilder and promoter Tom Burke pleaded guilty to a criminal felony steroid conspiracy charge on June 4, 2009 and was granted a deferred sentence of two years probation. Burke’s plea will be expunged without a conviction upon successful completion of the deferred sentence. Burke was one of 6 Oklahoma NPC and IFBB bodybuilders arrested in April 2009 arising out on a two-year steroid investigation targeting Oklahoma bodybuilders.
Tulsa Police interrogated Burke a week prior to his arrest at Symmetry Gym in Tulsa, where he worked as a personal trainer, and allegedly discovered human growth hormone (HGH) and testosterone in his car. Burke was accused of giving anabolic steroids and HGH to bodybuilders at Symmetry Gym to help them prepare for competition according to his arrest warrant. Burke previously competed at the 2007 Branch Warren Classic and helped co-promote the Oklahoma State and Central Classic in previous years.
Agent Brian Surber, of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBNDDC), has suggested there will be further arrests in the ongoing Oklahoma investigation targeting bodybuilders Read more
June 2, 2009
NPC Texas Chairman and IFBB Judge Lee Thompson was indicted on anabolic steroid conspiracy charges by a federal grand jury on April 30, 2009 in United States District Court for the South District of Texas. Court documents confirm the rumors that Timothy Lee Thompson aka Lee Thompson was one of the individuals facing federal charges in the Operation Farmacia de Juicy Phruit drug bust led by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department and the DEA. Lee Thompson was charged with one count of “conspiracy to manufacture and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of anabolic steroids, a Schedule III controlled substance (21 USC 841(a)(1); 841(b)(1)(D); and 846)”. * He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a jury trial.
Lee Thompson, the owner of One-2-One Training Centers in the Houston area, was previously publicly identified only as the “gym owner” arrested in the steroid bust. His identity was “unsealed” following his arrest. Lee Thompson is one of 22 co-defendants named along with Charles Brock Falkenhagen, the primary suspect in the investigation, in a superseding federal indictment. The superseding indictment included 46 counts involving the distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, hydrocodone, MDMA and money laundering. It is important to note that Thompson ONLY faces a single steroid conspiracy charge while Falkenhagen was named on each of the 46 counts. Read more
May 29, 2009
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency perpetuated misconceptions about the typical anabolic steroid user during a May 27, 2009 press conference announcing a major steroid bust involving personal trainers, their clients and bodybuilders in Fort Bend County Texas. Steroids users were compared to traditional recreational drug abusers; officials suggested that steroid users posed the same risk/dangers to society as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine users.
A large-scale, scientific survey of almost 2,000 non-medical anabolic steroid users published in 2007 has invalidated these assumptions. Contrary to popular assumptions about steroids users held by officials at the Fort Bend County press conference, the typical anabolic steroid user is a highly-functioning, highly-educated, health-focused, goal-oriented, white collar professional earning an above-average income who attempts to use anabolic steroids responsibly in order to improve muscle strength, body composition and physical appearance Read more
May 27, 2009
Operation Farmacia de Juicy Phruit is the code name for the major steroid bust in Houston led by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department involving the arrest of 73 defendants. The “largest narcotics operation in the history of Fort Bend County” primarily involved the arrest of personal trainers, their clients, bodybuilders, a professional bodybuilder and a gym owner in the Houston area. Many of the arrests only involved steroid possession. The steroid network was characterized by Sheriff Milton Wright as a “loose knit” network of individuals involved in fitness/bodybuilding who distributed steroids through “word of mouth”. The total amount of steroids sold over a period of about six years was estimated to have been $643,924 (”Authorities round up drug suspects,” May 27).
“It’s one of these things where they’ve got their friends on speed-dial. They need a certain product, they give them a call and so forth,” Wright said. “They just know each other. A lot of times they know each other by nicknames. They are well-connected to each other in that respect.”
Fort Bend County Sheriff Wright told the Houston Chronicle that the Texas steroid investigation revolved around personal trainers and gyms (”Fort Bend holds suspects in alleged steroid ring,” May 28).
“The majority of this thing is built around body trainers at fitness centers,” said Wright. “Their livelihood is getting customers they can develop physically — legally or illegally. It doesn’t matter in their eyes, as long as they get the job done.”
The steroid operation originated with Brock Falkenhagen, owner of Fitness Associates and Smoothie Factory in Sugar Land, when his activities came to the attention of law enforcement in late 2006 for importing and distributing Jintropin brand human growth hormone (HGH) purchased from Lei Jin of GeneScience Pharmaceuticals. Falkenhagen also allegedly manufactured and distributed anabolic steroids from some time in 2001 through September 7, 2007. Falkenhagen was well-connected in the Sugar Land / Stafford / Missouri City / Houston area fitness community and was friendly with several personal trainers and bodybuilding promoters. Some of Falkenhagen’s friends are rumored to have been arrested today. Charles Brock Falkenhagen was listed as a co-defendant on the sealed indictments of all 22 defendants indicted by the federal grand jury in April 2009; the names of Falkenhagen’s co-defendants were redacted in unsealed court documents.
Falkenbaden was not characterized as the mastermind behind the steroid operation. But authorities would not elaborate on how the Falkenbaden investigation led to the arrest and indictment of personal trainers and bodybuilders in the Houston area. Falkenbaden was arrested approximately a week before today’s arrests and released on a $75,000 unsecured bond Read more
May 27, 2009
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office is leading a major anabolic steroid bust this morning originating out of Texas in conjunction with the IRS, Houston DEA office, Fort Bend County District Attorney, US Attorney and the FDA. Operation Farmacia de Juicy Phruit arrests began at 4:30am CDT and have put approximately 50 individuals, including professional bodybuilders, gym owners, personal trainers and even pharmacists, in custody from at least three states including Texas, California and Georgia. The three-year operation could involve as many as 200 individuals.
Some major cities in Fort Bend County, Texas include Stafford, Katy, Pearland, and Sugar Land.
More details after the press conference:
May 27, 2009
Richard and Sandra Thomas, former competitive bodybuilders who competed in 2001 NPC Mid-Florida Muscle Classic mixed pairs competition, were arrested after undercover narcotics detectives recovered several thousand dosages of oral anabolic steroid, injectable steroids, and steroid paraphernalia some of which may have been destined for professional athletes. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) obtained an anticipatory search warrant in preparation for the controlled delivery after Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Philadelphia notified them that a large shipment of anabolic steroids was destined for the Lakeland, Florida home of Richard and Sandra Thomas. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd reported the steroid seizure as the largest in the history of the PCSO. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office apparently also seized copies of the steroid reference books “Anabolics 2007” and “Anabolics 9th Edition” which the photographer felt compelled to use creatively in official photographs of the steroid seizure Read more
May 23, 2009
Former NFL running back Femi Ayanbadejo settled his lawsuit against ALR Industries in a confidential agreement. ALR Industries (ALRI) has NOT admitted wrongdoing. ALRI is proceeding with its defamation lawsuit seeking punitive damages against Ayanbadejo for his irresponsible and false statements alleging that ALRI spiked its supplements. Ayanbadejo tested positive for an ingredient clearly listed on the label of ALRI Max LMG during a doping test conducted by the National Football League (NFL) (”Ex-Aztec, company settle dispute over supplement’s label,” May 20).
“Sometimes athletes have a valid claim against these companies, and sometimes they don’t,” said Charles Weller, attorney for ALR Industries. “This was a perfect example of a situation where we don’t have a valid claim. Ayanbadejo tested positive for exactly what was on the label of Max LMG. In trying to save his career, he chose to point fingers at the supplement company. He took a dietary supplement without doing his due diligence.”
Ayanbadejo publicly told reporters that ALR Industries knowingly added a banned substance and intentionally failed to disclose it on the label of Max LMG. Jim Miller, Ayanbadejo’s attorney, blamed Ayanbadejo’s failed steroid test on either a cross-contaminated or intentionally spiked supplement. However, Ayanbadejo and his lawyer never submitted any evidence to support allegations that Max LMG was cross-contaminated or spiked.
An evaluation of the Max LMG label easily proves the LISTED ingredient(s) account for the failed test. Read more
May 22, 2009
The United Kingdom intends to expand its anabolic steroid laws in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics in response to pressure from the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The steroid law revision is largely a symbolic move by the United Kingdom. It is an attempt to appease WADA by showing their commitment anti-doping in sports; however, the personal use of anabolic steroids and the importation of anabolic steroids for personal use will continue to be permitted under UK steroid law. The proposed legislation is unlikely to have any effect on steroid use in the United Kingdom.
The new proposal seeks to make British steroid law consistent with the WADA prohibited substance list. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) recommended adding an additional 24 anabolic steroids (mostly marginally effective prohormones) and 2 non-steroidal agents to the existing list of 54 anabolic steroid and 5 growth hormones currently classified as Schedule 4 (IV) controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Suggestions by the media that the proposed changes to UK steroid law are intended to protect the children are disingenuous. The driving forces behind the new steroid laws are IOC/WADA and the 2012 London Olympics (”Proposed control of 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP) and a group of substituted piperazines, as well as an additional 24 anabolic steroids and 2 non-steroidal agents,” May 21).
The original group of steroids were identified by reference to the International Olympic Commission Prohibited List. It is therefore appropriate for us to update our controls by reference to its successor, the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. It will provide consistency in our approach and is fully in line with the Government’s commitment to prevent the misuse of these substances both by the general public but also by elite athletes, particularly in the lead up to the London Olympics in 2012. [...]
The measure to control 24 additional anabolic steroid substances and 2 non-steroidal products under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 will support the Government’s commitment to strengthening the mechanisms to tackle doping in sport, targeting those facilitating doping and tackle trafficking, supply and manufacture of doping substances and those involved in such activities.
The IOC has long pressured the United Kingdom to criminalize personal use of steroids. Without changes to steroid possession laws, the IOC and WADA are unlikely to be satisfied by the Home Office’s latest recommendations. The United Kingdom’s permissive steroid possession laws will likely become increasingly problematic as the 2012 London Olympics approach. We expect the IOC to continue to lobby the U.K. government to adopt legislation that criminalizes mere use and possession of anabolic steroids.
The personal use of anabolic steroids and the importation of anabolic steroids for personal use remains explicitly permitted in the United Kingdom when in the form of a medicinal product under the new proposals. Read more
