Former Philadelphia Police Detective Keith Gidelson has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and human growth hormone. Gidelson imported and sold various types of performance-enhancing drugs including various steroids marketed under the Sciroxx brand label. The former cop was identified as the ringleader of a major anabolic steroid distribution ring based in the Philadelphia.
Gidelson had a local network of steroid dealers that distributed steroids for him at gyms and health clubs throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area. A federal indictment listed more than a dozen co-conspirators who worked with Gidelson and his wife. At least two of his co-conspirators were fellow police officers.
Gidelson also sold steroids, anti-estrogens, human growth hormone (hGH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to individual customers that he solicited over the internet. As an internet source, he recruited customers through various bodybuilding forums including isteroids.com and bodybuilding.com.
Gidelson purchased Sciroxx brand steroids from “Karl” in Europe and hGH from “Roger” in China. Some of the injectable steroids offered by Gidelson included Testodex Enthanthate 250 (testosterone enanthate), Nandrodex 300 (nandrolone decanoate) and Trenadex Enanthate 200 (trenbolone enanthate). Bodybuilders frequently refer to these steroids as “test,” “deca” and “tren”, respectively.
Assistant United States Attorney David Axelrod explained how easy it was for law enforcement officers to bust Gidelson and his network. Gidelson used his cell phone extensively to conduct business with his clients via SMS text messaging. Gidelson contacted clients via SMS when new steroid shipments arrived. His clients often contacted him via SMS to place steroid orders. The amount of incriminating evidence obtained from mobile phone records was extensive.
“Gidelson had a consistent system for distributing these steroids,” Axelrod told KYW Newsradio. “When he received a new shipment of steroids, he would call or send text messages to these customers. Sometimes these calls or texts were brief and in code. For instance, Gidelson and some of his co-conspirators used the term ‘books’ to refer to steroids. Often Gidelson and his customers would speak openly about receiving a new shipment of steroids, referring to specific types of steroids by their commonly used names.”
Gidelson is expected to be sentenced in January 2013.
Source:
Hanson, T. (October 9, 2012). Former Philadelphia Cop Admits Running Illegal Drug Operation. Retrieved from http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/10/09/former-philadelphia-cop-admits-running-illegal-drug-operation/
