Steroid and HGH bust in New York
Anabolic drugs hard to get? Apparently not. Newsday details a brazen drug operation in a gym, that police busted yesterday.
Police arrested more than 60 people – including a former NYPD officer and a professional boxer - in a sweeping steroid sting at two Queens gyms that acted like "drug supermarkets," officials said Friday.
Gym owners and trainers allegedly sold human growth hormone and other steroids brazenly at the front desk, on the gym floor and in locker rooms, said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
The sting also netted two guns, more than an ounce of cocaine, numerous prescription pain killers and more nearly $40,000 in cash, Kelly said.
You can see the financial potential in dealing these drugs. Not only have PEDs permeated pro sports, but they lead to huge drug profits for the distribution networks. Remember years ago when cocaine ruined pro sports teams like the Kansas City Royals or Pittsburgh Pirates? PEDs and steroids generate the same deleterious effect; however many writers, fans, and theorists find no problems in illegal anabolic use. Weird paradox.
The Powerhouse Gym in Bayside and Envy Us in College Point allegedly made as much as $50,000 a week from the illegal drug sales.
"These gyms had in reality been turned into drug supermarkets," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Ninth-ranked junior lightweight boxer Cindy "Checkmate" Serrano, 25, was one of those arrested. She was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance, but there was no evidence that she was using the steroids, Kelly said.
Former New York Police Department officer, Benigno Mercado, was also charged with selling drugs. Mercado was fired last year when he was caught with stolen license plates on his car while on suspension for another matter, Kelly said .
That is NOT true! Powerhouse Gym OWNERS are innocent. It was the greedy scumbag employees and some loser members doing this and have affected too many innocent people lives!
Posted by:mel | 09/08/2007 at 23:40
IT WASN'T THE GYM! IT WAS THE EMPLOYEES, THE OWNERS HAD NOTHING TO DO IT, THEY ARE 100% INNOCENT!!!
Posted by:Liam | 09/11/2007 at 17:29
I think this should be looked at with a different approach. Most steroid users are looking for cosmetic gains in muscle and less bodyfat. If you have the money you can go to an anti-aging clinic and be treated with HGH and hormones. I know many people who do this and they are respected members of society, doctors, lawyers etc.. but they have the money to do it and they look great.
Now we have police officers going into gyms and busting steroid users etc.. another part of a failed war on drugs. I have no problem with athletes being tested. Anyone who know sports knows that drugs exist and tests are beaten period. If that concerns you dont watch sports. But when steroids and other performance drugs became illegal, it put this issue into the status of criminal. And again many non-violent people who want to look better became criminals. Gyms should not be looked at as havens for criminals. Our nation is so obese its out of control. This whole steroid issue needs less hype. We need more focus on how to get people working out, eating better and less hype on demonizing steroids. If you have money you can go and get any kind of hormone treatment, plastic surgery, or botox shots you want. But when people buy the same items on the black market they are criminals, once again it reflects the same hypocritcs who support a failed war on drugs.
Posted by:keith | 09/11/2007 at 18:32
David "scooter" Honig who just wrote a training book with LL Cool J. was a trainer from power house he trained LL, and a few other celbrities from there with amazing "natural" results. Yeah sure! He was friends or associates with almost every one who was busted.
Posted by:Jim gerard | 09/21/2007 at 11:59
SAD
Posted by:MIKE | 11/21/2007 at 10:18
SAD
Posted by:MIKE | 11/21/2007 at 10:19
Unless you know that I am friends with these so called people, I really feel that you are unfair. Just because you say hello to people that work in a gym where you train DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU ARE FRIENDS OR ASSOCIATES. Be fair and stop attacking someone"s reputation. I put alot of hard work in with my clients as far as diet, cardio, and strength training. ,To say that they cheated is unfair and shows that YOU do NOT Know that Hard work can chanmge someone's body. Again stop hating just be fair.
Posted by:scooter | 02/15/2008 at 07:26
Fair? You want fair from this place?
You only get fair treatment from this place if your sport is football.
Posted by:Denis Wise | 02/15/2008 at 22:17
Hey Jim, have you had a personal training session with David "scooter" Honig? Obviously you havn't cause I can tell you he trains his clients very hard. NO DRUGS. If you keep talking crap you will find yourself in the middle of a lawsuit. The owners of Power House were not involved in the sale of any drugs. Everybody should get facts straight.
Posted by:George | 05/15/2008 at 20:10