Tulsa World: Steroid inquiry nets at least 7 arrests

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Steroid inquiry nets at least 7 arrests

43-year-old Tom Burke (top left), 26-year-old Derek Davis (top right), 48-year-old Dr. Gary Lee (bottom left), 34-year-old Dr. Brad Stahlheber (bottom right), 39-year-old Sherry Smith (center)

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 4/17/2009 1:26 PM
Last Modified: 4/17/2009 7:27 PM

Related story: Tulsa doctor charged over steroid prescriptions

After a long-term investigation into an illegal steroid ring, authorities arrested at least seven people, including two Tulsa doctors, officials announced Friday.

The probe began in January 2007 after the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs received tips about steroid sales, manufacturing and use, said agency spokesman Mark Woodward.

“This has been a far-reaching, complex investigation,” he said in a release. “We have identified individuals from Oklahoma, as well as several other states involved in bringing steroids or components of the drug into the United States. The drugs are being manufactured and distributed within a growing circle of individuals tied to competitive body building.”

Of the 12 warrants served Thursday, eight were in Tulsa, two in Oklahoma City, and two in Wagoner County. Investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tulsa Police Department also took part in the inquiry, Woodward said.

Authorities arrested at least seven people on a variety of allegations, including importation, production and prescription of the drugs, jail records indicate.

Those arrested Thursday include Dr. Brad Stahlheber, 34, Dr. Gary Lee, 48, Tom Burke, 43, Derek Davis, 26, Christopher Jackson, 33, all of Tulsa, as well as Sherry Smith, 39, of Oklahoma City, and Chris Waid, 36, of Bixby.

Burke is accused of giving out several types of growth hormones including testosterone, Stanozolol and Oxandrolone. He also faces a paraphernalia charge after authorities allegedly found syringes in his possession, court records indicate.

Lee practices family and sports medicine at Gilcrease Medical Center. A hospital spokeswoman said he still works for the company and that she was unaware of any pending disciplinary actions.

Lee told the Tulsa World last week that he wrote “off-label” orders for steroids but the medicines were meant to treat injuries and he never prescribed them for bodybuilding use.

Stahlheber was a former resident at Oklahoma State University Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said. He had temporary credentials as an anesthesiologist at Muskogee Community Hospital, but they were revoked Friday after his arrest, a hospital spokesman said.

Stahlheber worked for a physicians’ group that formerly provided services at St. Francis Hospital from June 2008 to February 2009, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Woodward said several more people face federal indictments, but the files are sealed and no details were released. More arrests are anticipated as the investigation moves forward, he said.

Also this week, two other men appeared in Tulsa federal court after being indicted in originally sealed steroids cases.

Guy Marc “Duke” Ducasse Sr., 46, is charged with four counts of distribution, one count of possession with intent to distribute and one count of attempting to persuade another person not to communicate with investigators.

Christopher P. Goodman, 26, is charged with four counts of distribution and one count of possession with intent to distribute.

Ducasse’s alleged criminal activity spanned from 2006 until April 8, 2008, the indictment filed against him indicates.

A Tulsa federal grand jury alleges that Goodman possessed the substances while intending to distribute them from April 7, 2004 through April 8, 2008.

Both men were indicted under seal on April 10 by a federal grand jury. The charges were made public when they were arraigned. They both pleaded innocent and will await further developments in their cases while on bond.

In the spring of 2008, steroids and human growth hormone were seized from Ducasse’s home, according to court records.

Also about one year ago, a large quantity of steroids and human grown hormone were reportedly seized at a residence and business that were associated with Goodman, records show.

Both Ducasse, a professional bodybuilder, and Goodman also face forfeiture charges in which federal authorities are seeking almost $20,000 from each of them.

World Staff Writers David Harper and Kim Archer contributed to this report.

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "7 arrested in steroid investigation," which was published on 4/18/2009. So far, 52 comments have been made.