whats going on with the bust in FL and TX ???
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Crazymank
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
Suspect in Florida Steroids Bust Implicates Capitals and Nationals
Posted May 27, 2009 1:19AM By Eric McErlain (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Capitals, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Rumors
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Late on Tuesday night in Florida, law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of a suburban Tampa couple on multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal steroids. But the news that's going to reverberate around the country, and especially in the nation's capital, is that one of the suspects in the bust is crowing that he's supplied steroids to athletes across a number of professional sports, including to members of the NHL's Washington Capitals and MLB's Washington Nationals.
Update: Capitals, NHL Comment on Allegations
The story, which was just posted over at Tampa Bay Online (click here for the video from WFLA-TV in Tampa), is short on details. What we know now is that Richard Thomas and his wife, Sandra, both of Lakeland, Florida, were arrested yesterday after local authorities acted on a tip provided by the Philadelphia office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
When the pair were arrested, they were found with an estimated $200,000 worth of steroids (click here for pics of the haul). But much to the surprise of the Polk County Sheriff, rather than clam up, Thomas started bragging that he had supplied steroids to athletes all over the country. When pressed further, Thomas would only say that he had supplied steroids to members of the Capitals and Nationals, though he refused to name any individual players.
During the press conference, Sheriff Grady Judd went to pains to point out that he was simply passing on what Thomas had told him, not that he had uncovered any evidence that any member of either team had either purchased or used steroids. Said Judd, "I can tell you this, there will be a whole lot of people puckered up after the morning news."
Indeed. Stay tuned for more details.
Posted May 27, 2009 1:19AM By Eric McErlain (RSS feed)
Filed Under: Capitals, NHL Police Blotter, NHL Rumors
Text Size A A A
Late on Tuesday night in Florida, law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of a suburban Tampa couple on multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal steroids. But the news that's going to reverberate around the country, and especially in the nation's capital, is that one of the suspects in the bust is crowing that he's supplied steroids to athletes across a number of professional sports, including to members of the NHL's Washington Capitals and MLB's Washington Nationals.
Update: Capitals, NHL Comment on Allegations
The story, which was just posted over at Tampa Bay Online (click here for the video from WFLA-TV in Tampa), is short on details. What we know now is that Richard Thomas and his wife, Sandra, both of Lakeland, Florida, were arrested yesterday after local authorities acted on a tip provided by the Philadelphia office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
When the pair were arrested, they were found with an estimated $200,000 worth of steroids (click here for pics of the haul). But much to the surprise of the Polk County Sheriff, rather than clam up, Thomas started bragging that he had supplied steroids to athletes all over the country. When pressed further, Thomas would only say that he had supplied steroids to members of the Capitals and Nationals, though he refused to name any individual players.
During the press conference, Sheriff Grady Judd went to pains to point out that he was simply passing on what Thomas had told him, not that he had uncovered any evidence that any member of either team had either purchased or used steroids. Said Judd, "I can tell you this, there will be a whole lot of people puckered up after the morning news."
Indeed. Stay tuned for more details.
S
saudades
Guest
^ ^ ^ Unbelievable! What a dumbass to start bragging like that.
irishhammer
Member
Wow any ideas on where the bust in texas happened? A bit scary if they had 2 busts in separate states on the same day...
Crazymank
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
Feds: 'In excess of 50 drug dealers taken off the street' in steroid raid
Dozens rounded up in Fort Bend, Harris counties
05:34 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 27, 2009
By Jeff McShan / 11 News
Video
Exclusive video of major steroid bust
May 27, 2009
Raw video: More steroid bust suspects
Raw video: Steroid bust, part 3
View larger
E-mail Clip
More Video
HOUSTON—Several dozen Houston-area men and women were taken into custody Wednesday in what is likely the largest illegal steroids bust this part of Texas has ever seen.
They dubbed the operation "Pharmacia de Juicy Phruit."
The international investigation started in 2006 with an informant's tip in Fort Bend County.
Only 11 News was there when the raids began before dawn with hundreds of law enforcement officers fanning across Harris and Fort Bend counties.
Also Online
SLIDESHOW: Images from the scene
Video
Slideshows
Blogs
They had arrested at least 66 suspects by Wednesday afternoon and more are being sought.
"I feel like we have made a pretty big footprint here today and left a imprint that will be felt for sometime in Fort Bend County," said Tim Johnson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.
Investigators say the suspects were distributing anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, ecstasy, vicodin, xanax, codeine syrup and Viagra.
"The steroids in some cases cause pain and other problems which the vicodin and Viagra is necessary to counteract," said Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright.
Wright said they also confiscated 50 marijuana plants at one home.
The list of suspects includes professional bodybuilders, gym owners, personal trainers and even pharmacists.
The ringleader was Charles Brook Faulkenhagen who operated a company in Sugar Land called Fitness Consultants, according to Johnson.
"Mr. Falkenhagen used Fitness Consultants to unlawfully import human growth hormone from a Chinese company," Johnson said.
If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 900 years in prison.
11 NEWS EXCLUSIVE
Dozens of suspects were arrested in the pre-dawn raid in Fort Bend and Harris counties.
Wright called it a "loosely-knit organization" that operated out of gyms and fitness centers in Fort Bend and Harris counties.
"It's one of those things where they've got their friends on speed-dial. When they need a certain product, they know who to call," he said.
Wright said 49 suspects face state charges and 17 face federal charges ranging from manufacturing to selling, possessing and distributing illegal drugs.
One suspect was arrested inside a 5000 square-foot home in Sugar Land.
The suspects were taken to a staging area at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds. They were processed then taken to jail.
At least some of the steroids were being manufactured in the Heights, according to authorities.
Investigators say most of the chemicals used to make the drugs came from China.
Officials say simultaneous arrests took place in Dallas, California and Georgia.
11 NEWS EXCLUSIVE
The suspects included professional bodybuilders, gym owners and personal trainers.
The investigation and operation is being led by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Sheriff Wright called it the largest narcotics bust in his county's history.
"A lot of people don't think there's much danger in the steroids, but there's a lot of broken families, broken homes, people hurt that are caused by illegal use of steroids we never know about because of the many side effects...," Wright said."
"There are endless examples of tragedies caused by steroid and prescription drug abuse," said Zoran Yankovich with the DEA. "Those arrests today are no different than traditional drug dealers peddling their poison -- methamphetamines and cocaine and heroin -- on the street corner."
"You don't really know what you are buying," said Tommy Hennesy with the Food and Drug Administration. "You have an expectation, but you don't know that it is at the potency that you expect, plus it is being manufactured -- and I use this word loosely -- in a kitchen lab."
Officers from Houston, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the DEA, the U.S. Marshal's Office and several other area agencies joined in the raid.
11 News reporter Jeff McShan will have more exclusive details and video on 11 News at 5, 6 and 10.
Dozens rounded up in Fort Bend, Harris counties
05:34 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 27, 2009
By Jeff McShan / 11 News
Video
Exclusive video of major steroid bust
May 27, 2009
Raw video: More steroid bust suspects
Raw video: Steroid bust, part 3
View larger
E-mail Clip
More Video
HOUSTON—Several dozen Houston-area men and women were taken into custody Wednesday in what is likely the largest illegal steroids bust this part of Texas has ever seen.
They dubbed the operation "Pharmacia de Juicy Phruit."
The international investigation started in 2006 with an informant's tip in Fort Bend County.
Only 11 News was there when the raids began before dawn with hundreds of law enforcement officers fanning across Harris and Fort Bend counties.
Also Online
SLIDESHOW: Images from the scene
Video
Slideshows
Blogs
They had arrested at least 66 suspects by Wednesday afternoon and more are being sought.
"I feel like we have made a pretty big footprint here today and left a imprint that will be felt for sometime in Fort Bend County," said Tim Johnson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.
Investigators say the suspects were distributing anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, ecstasy, vicodin, xanax, codeine syrup and Viagra.
"The steroids in some cases cause pain and other problems which the vicodin and Viagra is necessary to counteract," said Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright.
Wright said they also confiscated 50 marijuana plants at one home.
The list of suspects includes professional bodybuilders, gym owners, personal trainers and even pharmacists.
The ringleader was Charles Brook Faulkenhagen who operated a company in Sugar Land called Fitness Consultants, according to Johnson.
"Mr. Falkenhagen used Fitness Consultants to unlawfully import human growth hormone from a Chinese company," Johnson said.
If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 900 years in prison.
11 NEWS EXCLUSIVE
Dozens of suspects were arrested in the pre-dawn raid in Fort Bend and Harris counties.
Wright called it a "loosely-knit organization" that operated out of gyms and fitness centers in Fort Bend and Harris counties.
"It's one of those things where they've got their friends on speed-dial. When they need a certain product, they know who to call," he said.
Wright said 49 suspects face state charges and 17 face federal charges ranging from manufacturing to selling, possessing and distributing illegal drugs.
One suspect was arrested inside a 5000 square-foot home in Sugar Land.
The suspects were taken to a staging area at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds. They were processed then taken to jail.
At least some of the steroids were being manufactured in the Heights, according to authorities.
Investigators say most of the chemicals used to make the drugs came from China.
Officials say simultaneous arrests took place in Dallas, California and Georgia.
11 NEWS EXCLUSIVE
The suspects included professional bodybuilders, gym owners and personal trainers.
The investigation and operation is being led by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Sheriff Wright called it the largest narcotics bust in his county's history.
"A lot of people don't think there's much danger in the steroids, but there's a lot of broken families, broken homes, people hurt that are caused by illegal use of steroids we never know about because of the many side effects...," Wright said."
"There are endless examples of tragedies caused by steroid and prescription drug abuse," said Zoran Yankovich with the DEA. "Those arrests today are no different than traditional drug dealers peddling their poison -- methamphetamines and cocaine and heroin -- on the street corner."
"You don't really know what you are buying," said Tommy Hennesy with the Food and Drug Administration. "You have an expectation, but you don't know that it is at the potency that you expect, plus it is being manufactured -- and I use this word loosely -- in a kitchen lab."
Officers from Houston, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the DEA, the U.S. Marshal's Office and several other area agencies joined in the raid.
11 News reporter Jeff McShan will have more exclusive details and video on 11 News at 5, 6 and 10.
MMX2
New member
Well Sugarland is a very well to do neighborhood.
The Houston segment has been very active the last few years.
The problem here is they decided to get into the heavy hitters- X, vicodin, xanax, codeine.
I have known several good labs that have been taken down (one guy killed himself because he did not want to be taken down) because they got into the more exotic supplements. Good money but its like having a target on your back once you decide to get into it.
The Houston segment has been very active the last few years.
The problem here is they decided to get into the heavy hitters- X, vicodin, xanax, codeine.
I have known several good labs that have been taken down (one guy killed himself because he did not want to be taken down) because they got into the more exotic supplements. Good money but its like having a target on your back once you decide to get into it.
S
saudades
Guest
Is this for real?
irishhammer
Member
Wow this is way too close to home, jesus right up the damn road. Stupid dea, anyone know of any aas that requires the use of heavy painkillers or "gasp"! is the law once again making bullshit as they go?
i can't think of one case...
an ongoing investigation since 2006...that's 3 years-in 3 years they busted less than 70 people?
yeah really left a good "footprint" there- how much tax payers money did they have to use for 3 years on that shit?
"peddling their poison?" yeah that's why people are always going to the ER for steriod overdosing...
"you don't know what their putting in it" according to the FDA? like we know what the fuck is in GNC supplements? that's not regulated neither
bet all these people that they busted were middle class and had jobs and families and such...
those must be the destroyed families that they were talking about
The Booger
New member
I do notice a lot of people that do get busted, magically have a bunch of rec drugs that they are peddling at the same time.
Must be trying to live some pretty high life with all that cash flow going on. Makes you wonder.....what the hell really is in the stuff they sell? How safe is it? Is that pump from the tren or the X?
Must be trying to live some pretty high life with all that cash flow going on. Makes you wonder.....what the hell really is in the stuff they sell? How safe is it? Is that pump from the tren or the X?
of course it is....why would they bother busting anybody that doesn't have a lot of assets for the LE to "confiscate"
irishhammer
Member
Always a party going down in Sugarland 
I was hoping to see the pics of the haul so I could cry. LOL.
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