Arrested on nov 7 2007
Somerset man indicted in national steroid case
Web Posted: 11/13/2007 10:46 PM CST
Brian Chasnoff
Express-News
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered an Atascosa County man detained without bond in connection with a charge that he'd manufactured and distributed performance-enhancing drugs in Pennsylvania and elsewhere for more than two years.
The arrest of David William Jones at his Somerset home last week was prompted by the largest steroid enforcement operation in U.S. history. More than 100 people have been arrested in at least 27 states in connection with what federal officials have called a global underground trade of steroids, human growth hormone and other performance-enhancing drugs, according to news reports.
Tuesday, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania indicted Jones and his wife, Cathy Colleen Jones, on a charge of making and distributing anabolic steroids, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Cathy Colleen Jones has been released on $50,000 bond.
Federal agents who raided the Jones' house Nov. 7 found lab equipment and "numerous containers of powders" believed to be steroids, according to a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration who testified at Tuesday's hearing. Lab tests to identify the powder had not been completed Tuesday, the agent said.
The U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania has charged at least five other people with drug-related crimes allegedly uncovered by the operation, which involved the cooperation of China, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Thailand and Mexico.
It remained unclear Tuesday how the Jones' charge could be connected to other charges out of Pennsylvania because documents detailing the federal government's complaint against the couple were sealed.
"I can't comment on anything that is sealed," said First Assistant Martin C. Carlson of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
bchasnoff@express-news.net