- Jun 10, 2013
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http://m.statesman.com/news/news/local/officials-steroid-ring-bust-nabs-williamson-county/nhGJh/
Federal officials have arrested 22 people involved in a steroid distribution ring whose ringleaders live in Leander and Round Rock, according to a statement released Thursday by the U.S. attorney’s office.
Timothy John Bruner, a 54-year-old Leander resident, and Ryan Robert Rowland, 23, of Round Rock, led an operation that conspired to distribute more than 1,000 dosage units of steroids in tablet form and more than 200 10cc vials of steroids in liquid form, according to the news release.
All of the steroids that were distributed are used to help enhance muscle growth, said Greg Thrash, the resident agent in charge of the Austin Drug Enforcement Agency office in Austin. “The steroid culture is extremely pervasive in Austin,” he said. Sales of illegal steroids for bodybuilding are also a problem in many other parts of the country, he said.
Thrash said he couldn’t comment specifically about the case. In general, he said, steroids sold illegally can be dangerous because sellers often don’t get the products from labs but make them clandestinely in their garages so buyers don’t know exactly what they are taking.
Illegal steroids can also trickle down to schools and pose a threat to students, Thrash said.
Six of the 22 people arrested, including Bruner and Rowland, face a federal charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to the release, the four other men facing the federal charge are all from Austin: Ronald Marion Butsch, 42; Dan Lee, 47; Timothy John Moore, 49; andDon Glen Zachary, 58. They face up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
The other 16 face state charges.
Investigators purchased several times during an 8-month-long undercover operation, officials said. Authorities said they have seized a significant amount of steroids, $300,000 in cash and other assets in connection with the investigation.
Federal officials have arrested 22 people involved in a steroid distribution ring whose ringleaders live in Leander and Round Rock, according to a statement released Thursday by the U.S. attorney’s office.
Timothy John Bruner, a 54-year-old Leander resident, and Ryan Robert Rowland, 23, of Round Rock, led an operation that conspired to distribute more than 1,000 dosage units of steroids in tablet form and more than 200 10cc vials of steroids in liquid form, according to the news release.
All of the steroids that were distributed are used to help enhance muscle growth, said Greg Thrash, the resident agent in charge of the Austin Drug Enforcement Agency office in Austin. “The steroid culture is extremely pervasive in Austin,” he said. Sales of illegal steroids for bodybuilding are also a problem in many other parts of the country, he said.
Thrash said he couldn’t comment specifically about the case. In general, he said, steroids sold illegally can be dangerous because sellers often don’t get the products from labs but make them clandestinely in their garages so buyers don’t know exactly what they are taking.
Illegal steroids can also trickle down to schools and pose a threat to students, Thrash said.
Six of the 22 people arrested, including Bruner and Rowland, face a federal charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to the release, the four other men facing the federal charge are all from Austin: Ronald Marion Butsch, 42; Dan Lee, 47; Timothy John Moore, 49; andDon Glen Zachary, 58. They face up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
The other 16 face state charges.
Investigators purchased several times during an 8-month-long undercover operation, officials said. Authorities said they have seized a significant amount of steroids, $300,000 in cash and other assets in connection with the investigation.
