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Gym owners charged in bust
9-6-03
By MARK BRUMLEY, Staff Writer
News & Record
ASHEBORO -- An undercover operation has pulled the plug on illegal steroid sales at Powerhouse Gym in downtown Asheboro, authorities say.
Also caught in the sting was Xtreme Gym in Asheboro, although the business was not raided.
Randolph County deputies, Asheboro police and the State Bureau of Investigation seized more than $500,000 worth of steroids at Powerhouse and the business owners' home.
"That's probably by far the biggest raid that we've ever made or Asheboro's ever made just on steroids," said Sheriff Litchard Hurley.
Arrested Thursday were Powerhouse's owners, Lloyd Dean Clark, 57, and his wife, Verneita Ellington Clark, 56, both of 250 Mack Road in Asheboro. Hurley said Lloyd Clark has been convicted of steroid-related offenses in federal court in the past and served time in prison. The charges were filed in Cincinnati and Wilmington, the sheriff said.
The Clarks were charged with felony possession of steroids with intent to sell and deliver, and felony possession of steroids. Lloyd Clark was charged with an additional count of felony possession of steroids with intent to sell and deliver.
On Friday, police were still looking for one of the Clark's customers, Herbert Jason Poole, 23, to serve him with arrest warrants alleging two counts of misdemeanor possession of steroids, felony possession of steroids, and three counts of felony sale and delivery of steroids. He lives at 207 Village Ave. in Randleman.
Investigators allege that Poole was a go-between for Lloyd Clark and customers who wanted steroids. They said Verneita Clark was charged because of the thousands of doses of steroids found in the couple's home.
Also arrested Thursday was Donny Ray Brown, 28, of 549 Sawyersville Road in Asheboro. He is an employee of Xtreme Gym who was charged with four counts each of misdemeanor possession of steroids, felony sale and delivery of steroids.
The charges were the outcome of a three-month investigation that sent undercover officers to buy performance-enhancing steroids at Powerhouse and Xtreme.
Taken by mouth or injected, the drugs are typically imported from Mexico and Europe. They help weight-lifters bulk up, but they also have dangerous side effects, including liver damage, heart disease, anxiety and rage.
Hurley and Asheboro Police Chief Gary Mason said they have been getting complaints about Powerhouse for several years.
"It takes time to be able to develop the kind of probable cause you need to be able to go in and hit these locations," Mason said.
They said there is strong demand for steroids in Asheboro and other communities. Hurley said Thursday's raids might have been just "a drop in the bucket."
"The investigation is continuing, and it could go a lot further," Hurley said. "I think you've got some great gyms that do a legitimate business, and then you've got some that sell steroids. ... That's the ones we're going after."
Powerhouse was open Friday. Hurley said many of the people who work out there were probably ignorant of the behind-the-scenes drug trade.
Officers seized 18,225 doses of the steroids from Powerhouse and the Clarks' home. Stashed in a sports bag, puzzle boxes and other hiding places, the drugs are worth $547,650, officers said.
Investigators said they confiscated $4,233 in cash, 300 syringes and papers that could be used as evidence against the Clarks and Poole.
What's more, the Clarks could be assessed $182,500 in state taxes for the steroids. A percentage of the money is returned to the arresting agencies
9-6-03
By MARK BRUMLEY, Staff Writer
News & Record
ASHEBORO -- An undercover operation has pulled the plug on illegal steroid sales at Powerhouse Gym in downtown Asheboro, authorities say.
Also caught in the sting was Xtreme Gym in Asheboro, although the business was not raided.
Randolph County deputies, Asheboro police and the State Bureau of Investigation seized more than $500,000 worth of steroids at Powerhouse and the business owners' home.
"That's probably by far the biggest raid that we've ever made or Asheboro's ever made just on steroids," said Sheriff Litchard Hurley.
Arrested Thursday were Powerhouse's owners, Lloyd Dean Clark, 57, and his wife, Verneita Ellington Clark, 56, both of 250 Mack Road in Asheboro. Hurley said Lloyd Clark has been convicted of steroid-related offenses in federal court in the past and served time in prison. The charges were filed in Cincinnati and Wilmington, the sheriff said.
The Clarks were charged with felony possession of steroids with intent to sell and deliver, and felony possession of steroids. Lloyd Clark was charged with an additional count of felony possession of steroids with intent to sell and deliver.
On Friday, police were still looking for one of the Clark's customers, Herbert Jason Poole, 23, to serve him with arrest warrants alleging two counts of misdemeanor possession of steroids, felony possession of steroids, and three counts of felony sale and delivery of steroids. He lives at 207 Village Ave. in Randleman.
Investigators allege that Poole was a go-between for Lloyd Clark and customers who wanted steroids. They said Verneita Clark was charged because of the thousands of doses of steroids found in the couple's home.
Also arrested Thursday was Donny Ray Brown, 28, of 549 Sawyersville Road in Asheboro. He is an employee of Xtreme Gym who was charged with four counts each of misdemeanor possession of steroids, felony sale and delivery of steroids.
The charges were the outcome of a three-month investigation that sent undercover officers to buy performance-enhancing steroids at Powerhouse and Xtreme.
Taken by mouth or injected, the drugs are typically imported from Mexico and Europe. They help weight-lifters bulk up, but they also have dangerous side effects, including liver damage, heart disease, anxiety and rage.
Hurley and Asheboro Police Chief Gary Mason said they have been getting complaints about Powerhouse for several years.
"It takes time to be able to develop the kind of probable cause you need to be able to go in and hit these locations," Mason said.
They said there is strong demand for steroids in Asheboro and other communities. Hurley said Thursday's raids might have been just "a drop in the bucket."
"The investigation is continuing, and it could go a lot further," Hurley said. "I think you've got some great gyms that do a legitimate business, and then you've got some that sell steroids. ... That's the ones we're going after."
Powerhouse was open Friday. Hurley said many of the people who work out there were probably ignorant of the behind-the-scenes drug trade.
Officers seized 18,225 doses of the steroids from Powerhouse and the Clarks' home. Stashed in a sports bag, puzzle boxes and other hiding places, the drugs are worth $547,650, officers said.
Investigators said they confiscated $4,233 in cash, 300 syringes and papers that could be used as evidence against the Clarks and Poole.
What's more, the Clarks could be assessed $182,500 in state taxes for the steroids. A percentage of the money is returned to the arresting agencies
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