Mar 19 2011
Steroid Distributor Charged For Selling Steroids to High School Students
The use of anabolic steroids is common to bodybuilders and professional athletes. They are the usual clients of steroid distributors in the country. However, targeting high school students as the main customer is an alarming situation. A recent case of illegal steroid distribution showed that a man from Danburry, Conn. sold these drugs to high school students in the area. In the report of the Danbury News Times, the suspect was doing this business for several years already.
Steroids are potent drugs. If it is used without proper supervision from doctors it could lead to severe side effects. What more if it is being used by students who are susceptible to drug abuse. Research shows that young students tend to experiment with drugs and use them to enhance image rather than to improve performance in sports.
Court documents obtained by the media showed that Mansa sold anabolic steroids mostly to high school athletes. It includes, but not limited to, Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca Durabolin) and Testosterone Cypionate. These steroids are commonly used to develop leaner and bigger muscles.
The investigation which was spearheaded by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and local authorities revealed that Mansa was able to sell at least 70 bottles of steroids every month. Every bottle contains 200 milliliters of steroids priced at $90 each.
According to the authorities, the suspect, who is a businessman from Bethel, also sold marijuana in the Danbury area. Mark Mansa, 46 was arrested together with the other suspects and held in jail with no bail. Three others were also charged because of their participation in the illegal steroid distribution ring.
They are Richard Sciaccetano and Kevin Lubic. Sciaccetano is allegedly connected to the Bonnano crime family and Lubic is a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle club in New Rochelle, N.Y. according to investigators. Another suspect is expected to surrender and his identity is still being withheld by the authorities.
The head of this steroid distribution ring faces nine counts of indictment. Aside from the conspiracy to distribute steroids, Mansa was also charged in the illegal distribution of marijuana. On the other hand, the other two suspects were only charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
Lubic pleads not guilty on the charges before Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons of the U.S. District Magistrate court. If convicted he could face a life sentence. On the other hand, Mansa is expected to be arraigned in Bridgeport on March 23 and expected to plead not guilty on the charges.
Though this could be considered as another successful operation of the DEA and the local law enforcement agency, the length of the investigation was too long. It was reported that the authorities spent 5 years in investigating Mansa for his illegal steroid distribution business. The suspect also bragged about his connections with the police according to a witness.
[...] issue of steroid testing in CT high schools surfaced after the arrests of 5 people involved in a steroid distribution ring. The suspects allegedly distributed anabolic steroids to high school student athletes in the [...]
[...] majority of the customers were high school students. Mark Mansa, the major operator of the alleged steroid distribution ring, have been in the steroid business for more than five years before the authorities were able to [...]
[...] was taken into custody by the law enforcement officers last week for his alleged involvement in the steroid ring. The Special Investigations Division of the local police and a federal drug agent went to his condo [...]