Police Arrest 3 In What May Be National Steroid Ring
Investigators Say Athletes, Body Builders Were Customers
POSTED: 9:22 am CDT June 23, 2005
UPDATED: 10:12 am CDT June 23, 2005
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Three men were arrested in Lincoln Wednesday as police broke up what they describe as a steroid distribution ring. The Nebraska State Patrol said the arrests came after a six-month investigation that could have nationwide implications. The steroids were being shipped to Lincoln from New York, investigators said.
Investigators believe Chad Case, 30, Kenneth Thompson, 23, and Levi Lewis, 24, were the ring's top local operatives. They have been arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. They will be arraigned Thursday afternoon in Lancaster County Court. Elwell said steroids and human growth hormone were distributed in the Lincoln area. Some went to body builders, some to athletes. "We believe that it did deal with the college level for sure, and we're not sure yet whether it went down to the high school level," Elwell said. Elwell wouldn't name the athletes believed to be involved or their schools. A joint investigation with postal inspectors revealed that the men were sending steroids to customers across the country. "We locked in on the packages that were coming into the Nebraska area," said Sgt. Glenn Elwell, of the Nebraska State Patrol. Case owns a Lincoln supplement store. Investigators don't believe Case actually sold the illegal substances through the store, but they did arrest him there Wednesday afternoon. A manager at Case's store declined comment. Calls to the suspects' homes weren't returned.
Investigators Say Athletes, Body Builders Were Customers
POSTED: 9:22 am CDT June 23, 2005
UPDATED: 10:12 am CDT June 23, 2005
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Three men were arrested in Lincoln Wednesday as police broke up what they describe as a steroid distribution ring. The Nebraska State Patrol said the arrests came after a six-month investigation that could have nationwide implications. The steroids were being shipped to Lincoln from New York, investigators said.
Investigators believe Chad Case, 30, Kenneth Thompson, 23, and Levi Lewis, 24, were the ring's top local operatives. They have been arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. They will be arraigned Thursday afternoon in Lancaster County Court. Elwell said steroids and human growth hormone were distributed in the Lincoln area. Some went to body builders, some to athletes. "We believe that it did deal with the college level for sure, and we're not sure yet whether it went down to the high school level," Elwell said. Elwell wouldn't name the athletes believed to be involved or their schools. A joint investigation with postal inspectors revealed that the men were sending steroids to customers across the country. "We locked in on the packages that were coming into the Nebraska area," said Sgt. Glenn Elwell, of the Nebraska State Patrol. Case owns a Lincoln supplement store. Investigators don't believe Case actually sold the illegal substances through the store, but they did arrest him there Wednesday afternoon. A manager at Case's store declined comment. Calls to the suspects' homes weren't returned.