The US District Attorney received some PR, and California steroids doctor Ramon Scruggs copped some pleas it was announced yesterday. As readers recall, Scruggs was a major supplier of steroids and PEDs to professional athletes, and apparently normal people too. To the Imperial Valley News:
Dr. Scruggs, 61, of Tustin, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 6, 2008. He was charged with conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, specifically, the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and the illegal smuggling of human growth hormone into the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; the distribution of anabolic steroids, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841; misbranding drugs held for sale with intent to defraud and mislead, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 331(k); conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956; and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A). Under the plea agreement, Dr. Scruggs is pleading to the counts charging him with conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and to bring human growth hormone into the United States and one count of money laundering.
In pleading guilty, Dr. Scruggs admitted that between 2000 and 2003, he distributed anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (“HGH”) to individuals in a manner outside the usual course of professional practice while operating his medical practice at New Hope Health Center in Costa Mesa, California. Dr. Scruggs further admitted that he knew that such distributions were not for a legitimate medical purpose, and that they were instead for non-legitimate purposes, including performance enhancement.
Dr. Scruggs admitted that he illegally distributed between 250 to
1,000 10cc vials of anabolic steroids. He further admitted that on or
about May 17, 2003, he illegally distributed the anabolic steroid
testosterone to a person in Santa Clara County, and that he caused this
distribution of anabolic steroids without a medically adequate
examination.
Dr. Scruggs further admitted that he asked others to assist him in the illegal distribution of steroids. On March 11, 2003, an individual under the authority of Dr. Scruggs wire-transferred $3,605 from a bank account under Dr. Scrugg’s control at that time, Bank of America Account #02020-01935, from San Francisco, California, to the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of this transfer was to make a payment for HGH Dr. Scruggs had prescribed for patients without a medically adequate reason or a medically recognized need.
So the Scruggs book appears closed. Scruggs supplied dope to athletes like Troy Glaus. Although no one would condone Glaus's actions given the widespread use of PEDs, Glaus might have thought he was cautious going to visit a doctor who apperaed to use PEDs in his practice. In this case, the doctor is more at fault than the patient...and problaby liable to a lawsuit too.
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