Bob Lee, the district attorney for Santa Cruz County, has an explanation for the huge quantity of anabolic steroids and growth hormone linked to a man indicted for steroid importation and distribution – he was a steroid addict!
“Like many people who are involved in drugs, they have to pay for that addiction somehow. It appears he’s stolen from his family for years and years,” Lee said.
According to DA Bob Lee, James Edward Moore, Jr’s steroid addiction was so severe that he had to steal significant amounts of money from his father. The District Attorney has filed misdemeanor charges of grand theft and is preparing to file felony charges for theft and identity theft.
A recent survey of “male adult non-medical anabolic steroid users” offered a clearer picture of the average steroid user. Apparently Bob Lee is unaware that anabolic steroid users are not like abusers of illicit narcotic drugs.
“Although often considered similar to abusers of narcotics and other illicit drugs (e.g., heroin or cocaine), non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users follow carefully planned drug regimens in conjunction with a healthy diet, ancillary drugs and exercise,” said Jack Darkes, a study co-author.
“As opposed to the spontaneous and haphazard approach seen in abusers of psychotropic drugs, everything is strategically planned to maximize benefits and minimize harm.”
James Edward Moore, Jr., was indicted for importation of anabolic steroids and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids on February 27, 2008. Moore admitted to ordering steroids from IP China sending money via Western Union on at least six occasions to Zhijum He of China. The charges listed in Moore’s indictment were based on thousands of vials and ampules of steroids and thousands of steroid tablets found at Moore’s residence, storage lockers, and three intercepted packages linked to Moore.
The investigation of Moore began in late August 2007 when the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opened an incoming package addressed to Jimmy Moore, Jr.; the steroid shipment was sent via International Express Mail by Sany Zeng of Chungsa, Hunan (China).
A second incoming package from China on October 22, 2007 was examined by federal authorities under an anticipatory search warrant. This International Express Mail shipment contained various anabolic steroids and growth hormone, including products labelled Test 400, British Dragon Trenabol Depot, Primobolan QV 100, Teston QV 200, and HGH marked Getropin 10IU Recombinant Human Growth Hormone.
The third incoming package was ordered from AlinShop and shipped by Gore Elena from the Moldova Republic. It contained eight 5mL sachets containing testosterone cypionate and eight sachets containing testosterone enanthate. All sachets were marked “Aromathekaypoil.”
Moore waived his Miranda Rights and told investigators he sold the anabolic steroids primarily to bodybuilders at the Santa Cruz Gold’s Gym and used them for personal medical problems e.g. “to fix his hormone levels.” He reported that he was disabled due to cardiomyopathy and kidney problems. Due to the sheer quantity of anabolic steroids discovered during the steroid bust, the Gold’s Gym in Santa Cruz has the most “jacked” bodybuilders in the country.
Moore resided at a house for recovering drug and alcohol addicts where he was manager and caretaker of the facility.
