Several police sources, however, said that a handful of cops, some of them ranking officers, have recently received “target” letters asking for their cooperation in the case.
In 2005, Weiser pleaded guilty to the charges in federal court, and his sales records, seized in the investigation, led to the Trenton officers, according to published reports.
Steven Suarez, a steroid dealer who was busted in April 2008, is thought to be cooperating with authorities in the Trenton cop steroid scandal as well.
New York Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Chief Michael Marino refused to accept departmental punishment that would dock him 30 days pay and place him on one year probation (”Steroid Cop will fight the rap,” August 15).
Marino was on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for which he obtained a topical testosterone cream from a Lowen’s Pharmacy. Unfortunately, Lowen’s Pharmacy was implicated in a high-profile steroid scandal involving the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. The steroid hysteria involving cops on steroids unfairly maligned the media, the public, and NYPD against steroid use for any reason - even legitimate medical reasons.
The defense attorney for Roberto Pulidoblamed anabolic steroids for a long list of crimes committed as part of a police corruption scandal. Pulido claims that being “pumped full of steroids” caused him to get involved in transporting cocaine into Boston. He claims that his steroid addiction made him exaggerate many of his behaviors.
Pulido “knowingly and intentionally combined, conspired, confederated and agreed… with other persons, known and unknown, to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, a quantity or mixture of a substance containing cocaine” in excess of 140 kilograms.
Pulido obtained identifying information for the identity theft ring, including name, address, date of birth and social security number of identity theft victims. Pulido used Boston Police Department computers to access Registry of Motor vehicle database and pull identifying information on expensive vehicles he observed while on duty. Pulido said, “it’s easy for me, I just run people’s plates, you know. I go look for fucking fancy ass cars and fucking run ‘em like Brookline and Cambridge…”
Pulido purchased fraudulent gift cards in amounts in excess of $100,000 at 50 cents on the dollar. He used the gift cards himself and sold other gift cards at a profit.
Pulido provided protection for approximately 50-60 after-hours narcotics and prostitution parties where nude dancers and prostitutes often sold sexual favors including lap dances, fellatio and sexual intercourse. Pulido wanted to expand into protecting “water parties” where bottled water and ecstasy were sold in combination.
Pulido planted narcotics and a gun in the vehicle of a former business partner, had him arrested during which he had his home robbed of $40,000. Pulido threatened another business partner saying “…if the dog is out and he tries to attackus, half of the dog is gonna be hung on the front door and the other half is gonna be hung on the rear door… Don’t let it go personal. If you want to make it personal, after the dog it will be your wife, then it’ll be your mother, then it’ll be your brother, and it’ll be your unborn child.” Pulido, in full military gear, physically assaulted an individual he suspected of stealing his car stereo stating.
Pulido cashed illegal alien’s checks for a 10% money laundering fee.
Pulido attempted to sell his girlfriend’s truck to a “chop-shop” and filed a false police report claiming it was stolen in order to collect reimbursement from his insurance company in a case of insurance fraud.
Pulido smuggled illegal aliens into the country for $5,000 per person.
Pulido gave up sensitive information on his fellow officers at the Boston Police Department to individuals outside the department.
Pulido aided and abetted loan sharking.
Pulido trafficked in stolen electronics.
Apparently steroid use by police officers is the least of our worries; a bigger threat to the public safety is police corruption. Unless, of course, you believe that anabolic steroids are the root of all evil when it comes to police corruption!
Several cases have recently been reported (Coacher & Workman 1989; Editorial 1988b,c,d,e; Lubell 1989; Maryland v. Michael D. Williams 1986; Moss 1988) wherein presumed psychological and behavioural effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids are alleged by defendants to have significantly influenced the commission of criminal acts. This legal strategy has been identified in the popular press as the ‘dumbbell defense’ (Editorial 1988c).
These defense strategies have become more popular with the increasing degree of steroid demonization in our society. Fortunately, these legal strategies, lacking in any credible scientific support, are not terrible effective in our justice system.
