A Philadelphia Police officer who used text messaging to order illegal steroids has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and two counts of possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids. Joseph McIntyre used his cell phone to order anabolic steroids from a friend at the Philadelphia Police Department who happened to moonlight as a steroid dealer.
The friend was Philadelphia police Detective Keith Gidelson. Gidelson was the purported ringleader of a Sciroxx steroid distribution network that involved Philadelphia police officers, internet customers and other steroid dealers at local gyms and supplement stores in a 17-count indictment. McIntyre was indicted as a co-conspirator.
McIntyre was caught after federal investigators started monitoring his cell phone and text messaging activity by Gidelson.
The SMS records revealed an exchange between McIntyre and Gidelson in which McIntyre not only ordered illegal anabolic steroids but admitted to providing (distributing) them to others.
“I need 3 test .. 1 CYP .. 1 SUST AND 1 DECA when I come over and I wanna stay on test I’m off,” wrote McIntyre in a text message to Gidelson in February 2011. “Please don’t forget my two bottles I only have 1 deca left and had my buddie wait for 1 week for the sust.”
Investigators intercepted a phone call in which McIntyre sought steroids for man who frequently hired him for off-duty work moonlighting at the Roxy.
“I need to get a deca and cyp tonight . . . it’s for the guy who always get me work at the Roxy,” said McIntyre. “I wanted to hook him up. I wanted to try and get it for him.”
Police also observed McIntyre arriving at Gidelson’s house to purchase steroids.
McIntyre, a 14-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5, 2011.
Gidelson and George Sambuca, a third cop indicted in the steroid distribution network, have both pleaded not guilty.
Source:
Hinkelman, M. (August 24, 2011). Ex-Philly cop pleads in steroids ring case. Retrieved from http://articles.philly.com/2011-08-24/news/29922416_1_steroid-distribution-ring-anabolic-plea-memo
