TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suspected Polk steroid dealer facing federal charges

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 1, 2009

Updated: 06/01/2009 05:49 pm

RICHARD THOMAS

TAMPA - Federal charges have been filed against a central Florida man who told authorities he sold steroids to professional athletes.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa said Monday that Richard Thomas, 35, of Lakeland, was charged with possessing and selling anabolic steroids. His first appearance was delayed until Thursday at 3 p.m. State charges against Thomas were dropped.

Thomas was transferred to federal custody Monday.

His attorney, Mark Taylor, said he was worried about his client's health. Thomas has diabetes and hasn't had insulin since Sunday, Taylor said.

Thomas had hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of anabolic steroids in his Stoney Creek Drive home last week when deputies and federal agents set up a controlled delivery of a package containing the contraband sent from overseas.

Investigative records show the drugs came in packages from countries outside the United States. Thomas said he bought them from places like China, Russia, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries.

Agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said they intercepted a suspicious package in Philadelphia on May 21. The package was sent from Slovakia and addressed to "Mahlon" Thomas in Lakeland.

Agents and undercover Polk County sheriff's deputies wired the package to alert them if it had been opened. The package was delivered to Thomas' address, and within five minutes an alert was sent that the package had been opened, the affidavit said. Thomas was the only person at the home at the time.

During the search, and after Thomas was read his rights, he told agents that he would "beat any charges like he had in the past," and that "the only thing he knows is selling steroids," the affidavit said.

Thomas wife, Sandra, 49, also was charged. She was released last week after posting $215,000 bail.
Thomas' arrest is having a rippling effect through the world of professional sports.

After his arrest, Thomas told investigators he was the biggest steroid provider in Central Florida and that he sold mostly to professional athletes, including those on the Washington Capitals hockey team and Washington Nationals baseball team, Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said.

National Hockey League deputy commissioner Bill Daly said today the league is conducting interviews with Capitals front-office employees and their medical and training staffs.

"The investigation is ongoing," Daly said in an e-mail to The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com.

Daly said the interviews are being conducted by the league's security department in conjunction with its legal staff.

"I don't anticipate any formal conclusions in the near term, as much will depend on what comes out in the Florida proceedings," Daly said.

The Daily News in New York has reported that Major League Baseball also is investigating Thomas' claims.

Tribune reporter Erik Erlendsson, News Channel 8 reporter Natalie Shepherd and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT