Quantcast

Cops Investigated During Illegal Steroid Ring Raids

2007_10_steroids.jpgThe NYPD is investigating six police officers suspected of trying to improperly obtain steroids. According to WNBC, the NYPD and State Health department have been raiding Brooklyn pharmacies - and the NYPD's Internal Affairs has now turned an eye on its own.

The NYPD's Paul Browne says that news reports that dozens of officers were being investigated were "wildly distorted and exaggerated." He does not believe the suspects to be arrested; rather they will face disciplinary action. The cops were apparently using the steroids for bodybuilding.

In the meantime, the drug raids have centered around a pharmacy in Bay Ridge called Lowen's. About $8 million of steroids and human growth hormone were found, and at least some were from China. The drug ring may have ties to a Florida-based pharmacy that the Albany County DA's office has been investigating; the Post reports that "several professional athletes...including Met relief pitcher Scott Schoeneweis and St. Louis Cardinal slugger Rick Ankiel" (who have not been charged) are linked to this probe.

The plot further thickens because a co-owner of Lowen's is Julius Nasso Jr., whose father, Julius Nasso Sr., is a film producer who conspired with the Gambino crime family to extort millions from Steven Seagal (Nasso Sr. served a year in prison). Nasso Sr. founded the Universal Marine Medical Supply Company and is also a pharmacist. And the Daily News reports that Tony Sirico, of Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos fame, goes to Lowen's!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Comments [rss]

  • Leon Freilich

    STICK IT THERE

    I think that I shall never see

    A cop with muscularity

    Unless he's shooting potent 'roids

    To grab some Fire Department boids.

  • Sinchy

    I'm wondering if any of these cops have any CCRB citations.

    The thought of a power mad cop on a roid rage is pretty scary for our civil rights.

  • shovel

    When I first saw this story on NY1 this morning, I thought the police had purchased the steriods as undercover agents. When it became apparent this wasn't the case, it was the icing on the cake of really a perfect local news story; you couldn't craft a better one from fictional elements.

  • Kevin Bracken

    Rocknrope, I was just about to say, "I wonder how you ask around for illegal steroids?"

  • smitty

    I like my men au natural, thanks.

  • Rocknrope

    "Hey T, I need to pick up my stack of Stanz and D-bol, OHHHHHH!"

    Personally, I like having my hair and walnuts.

  • Reality Czech

    The police are and have always been the biggest criminals out there. You don't have to obey the law when you think that you are the law.

  • yakatori

    Doesn't Giambi live around there?

  • Peter

    It's high time that steroids should be legalized if used by prescription. Their side effects, while potentially serious, are often the result of careless use - a risk that could be minimized if taken under medical supervision - rather than anything inherent in the drugs themselves. And the inescapable fact remains that steroids work. There is absolutely nothing that will build strength and muscle mass like "juicing."

blog comments powered by Disqus

send a tip

tips@gothamist.com