A Moses Lake man known as the “Bench Monster,” for his world-record weightlifting exploits faces federal charges tied to anabolic steroids.
Ryan Shawn Kennelly, 38, once bench pressed 1,075 pounds to set a world record at the Pride Strength Wars in Kennewick.
Now his burden is dealing with the fallout of a grand jury indictment involving outlawed steroids, charges that carry maximum penalties upon conviction of 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
He pleaded not guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to a rash of charges accusing him of possessing lab equipment to make steroids; importing anabolic steroids; possession and attempts to deliver steroids; and being an unlawful user of a drug while possessing firearms and ammunition.
World records, steroids, firearms and ammunition. Add federal penitentiary to this list of associations.
I heard a radio announcer on Fox (I think) lobby for legalizing steroids and PEDs, because he liked long home runs. Not only is that a very superficial thought, but go over that list of associations again: steroids, firearms, illegal activities, penitentiary. Even if a fan values long home runs over fairness, honesty and the player's health, does the fan not understand how the associations fit in? An underworld of aggressiveness, that operates in the criminal shadows.
Friday was not the muscle-bound Kennelly’s first brush with steroid allegations.
Grant County prosecutors accused him in October 2010 of manufacturing marijuana and possession and intent to distribute marijuana and anabolic steroids, the Tri-City Herald reported.
Two months later, authorities searched his Kennewick apartment and seized 84 vials of steroids, and he was charged with possession with intent to manufacture and deliver anabolic steroids.
While those two cases were pending, authorities accused him of trying to ship steroids from Washington to California via UPS, but California Highway Patrol investigators intercepted the package and discovered the vials inside.
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