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Lakeland man pleads guilty to federal steroids charge

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2009

TAMPA - A Lakeland man who told authorities he sold steroids to professional athletes pleaded guilty today to a federal steroids charge.

Richard Thomas, 36, faces up to five years in prison on a charge of possession of steroids with intent to distribute.

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

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

Federal agents said they intercepted a suspicious package in Philadelphia on May 21. It was sent from Slovakia and addressed to "Mahlon" Thomas in Lakeland.

Agents and undercover Polk County sheriff's deputies wired the package with an electronic beacon to alert them if it was opened. The package was delivered to Thomas' address and an alert was sent within five minutes, an affidavit states. Thomas was the only person at the home.

Detectives found large quantities of steroids in Thomas' home, as well as firearms, packaging labels, blister packs full of Valium, a digital scale, books about steroids, body building trophies and photos, according to court documents.

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 at the time.

After Thomas' arrest, a National Hockey League official said the league was interviewing Capitals' employees. The Daily News in New York also reported that Major League Baseball was investigating Thomas' claims.

The status of those investigations wasn't immediately available.

Thomas' plea agreement gives a bare-bones description of his actions relating to the May 26 package delivery and search of his home. It does not indicate to whom the steroids were being delivered.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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