InternetDrugLaw.com

Three Charged With Possession of Steroids Purchased from Internet Pharmacy

Posted on Wednesday, 12th November 2008 by dcooley

A Cuyahoga County grand jury in Ohio returned a state indictment against police officer Anthony Tuleta, former firefighter Craig Romey and former EMS paramedic Angel Otero for the possession of steroids purchased from an internet pharmacy. Also indicted was Dr. Ramon Scruggs of California. Dr. Scruggs faces 13 counts of drug trafficking.

According to Cleveland.com, “Tuleta, Romey and Otero submitted claims to Medical Mutual of Ohio, said Ryan Miday, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office. The insurance company contacted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration because the large amounts of drugs were being prescribed for nonmedical uses, he said.”

Presumably, the amount of claims submitted caused the insurance company to forward the claims to the DEA:

Tuleta, a 27-year officer, submitted nearly $95,000 in claims. He was suspended without pay Monday. Otero, of Cleveland, submitted $9,262 in claims, and Romey, now a firefighter in Las Vegas, submitted $23,355, Miday said. Each faces multiple charges for possession and theft.

Dr. Scruggs has previously been linked to prescribing steroids to various professional athletes and was associated with the Signature Pharmacy investigation.

This is the first time I have seen individuals charged for possession of drugs obtained from an internet pharmacy for their personal use. I will post more later, once I am able to view the indictment and take a look at Ohio’s law on Controlled Substances.

The content on this post does not constitute legal advice and is for informational purposes only. You should not act upon the information presented on this website without seeking the advice of legal counsel. Should you wish to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney knowledgeable in internet pharmacy, prescription, and drug law, please feel free to contact me directly.