Allan Donnelly of Flex Magazine reports that IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi’s preliminary court date on steroid possession and steroid distribution charges has been rescheduled to February 6, 2008. Hide was said to have “missed” the bus transporting him to his originally scheduled hearing on January 23, 2008; when he did arrive, Los Angelese Superior Court was unable to provide a court-appointed Japanese translator. So, the judge rescheduled the hearing two weeks later. Meanwhile, Hidetada returns to jail to continue to wait for his day in court.
It seems to be that it was the State’s responsible to deliver Hide to court on time and, when that was not possible, at least be able to provide a Japanese translator. Rescheduling the court date to almost two weeks later due to State incompetence doesn’t seem very fair to Hide.
There have been unsubstantiated rumors of a steroid bust involving Art Atwood for several months. David Jacobs, known by bodybuilding fans as Branch Warren’s training partner, was rumored to be a steroid dealer turned police informant who sold 100 vials of counterfeit steroids to Art Atwood in early May 2007. However, court documents revealed that Art Atwood was never arrested, charged or convicted of any type of anabolic steroid possession, steroid distribution or steroid conspiracy charge(s). Technically, Art Atwood was never “busted” for buying/selling steroids.
Today, the New York Times confirmed that IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Art Atwood bought 100 vials of counterfeit anabolic steroids from an unnamed police informant back on May 7, 2007. Atwood was arrested moments later, not on a steroids violation, but for a minor traffic violation. Clearly, police could have arrested and charged Art Atwood on a felony steroid possession or distribution charge, but they did not. We now know why…
Three days later on May 10, 2007, a grand jury indicted David Jacobs on three counts of “conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids” and and one count of “unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.”
In November 2007, it was publicly revealed that David Jacobs would only receive probation as part of a plea agreement; in exchange, he told the media he would fully cooperate with federal authorities and release the names of professional athletes to which he sold anabolic steroids.
Today, the New York Times revealed that Art Atwood also made a deal with Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Cantrell in which he would completely avoid jail time; in exchange the feds have his full cooperation. The feds enlisted both Art Atwood and David Jacobs to help them with Operation Raw Deal. But the New York Times was unable to uncover the final target of the multi-state investigation.
It is unclear whether or not Art Atwood will ever be charged with a crime. But Art Atwood and David Jacobs are still cooperating in an ongoing federal investigation meaning customers who bought anabolic steroids from them could still face criminal prosecution.
The New York Times articles provides an interesting insight into “steroid prosecution methods and goals.”
Another prominent bodybuilder was recently charged with “possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver.” NPC Bodybuilder Eddie Moyzan, recently featured in advertisements for Gaspari Nutrition, was arrested for selling the anabolic steroidsDianabol (methandrostenolone) and Anavar (oxandrolone) to an undercover police officer on two occassions at the Gold’s Gym in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
The transactions allegedly occurred over one year ago. The Bethlehem State Police refused to explain why it took so long to file charges. Eddie Moyzan is free on $50,000 unsecured bond.
Joseph Garcia, Jr. aka “Joe Gold” was indicted in September 2007 on “conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.” This week he plead guilty to these charges in Georgia and was released on unsecured bail pending sentencing. But before he could leave the courthouse, he was arrested again on separate steroid distribution charges in Connecticut.
Apparently as soon as “Joe Gold” was released from jail on bond after his first steroid distribution indictment, he allegedly returned to becoming a steroid source on the internet from November 2007 up until January 4, 2008. No word on whether he used the same handle as before.
Muscletime.com was the first to report the official charges against Japanese bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi:
IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi was formally charged today in Los Angeles Superior Court with nine counts of steroid possession and distribution including 5 counts of “possession or purchase of controlled substance;” 1 count of “transport of controlled substance into state for sale;” and 3 counts of “possession of a prescription drug without a prescription.”
