Tulsa World: Two plead guilty in steroid inquiry

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Two plead guilty in steroid inquiry

SENTENCED
Tom Burke(left) and Chris Waid: The two received deferred sentences for their roles in what authorities call a widespread steroid- distribution ring.

By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer
Published: 6/7/2009 2:35 AM
Last Modified: 6/7/2009 4:28 AM

A competitive bodybuilder and another man who was arrested in a large-scale steroid inquiry have both pleaded guilty to drug charges and will not serve prison terms if they meet probation requirements.

Court records indicate that Tulsan Tom Burke and Chris Waid of Bixby both received deferred sentences for their roles in what authorities called a widespread steroid-distribution ring.

Burke, 43, is accused of giving black-market substances to several people while he worked as a personal trainer at a local gym, according to an arrest warrant filed by Agent Brian Surber of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control.

Waid, 36, was charged with drug and paraphernalia possession.

Burke pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy charge during a court appearance Thursday and was sentenced to two years of probation. Two lesser charges were thrown out in the plea deal, court documents indicate.

Authorities arrested five other people in the April 16 warrant sweep. They are all free on bond, and their court cases are pending.

The inquiry steadily became more intensive since it began in December 2007, Surber said, noting that the probe is ongoing and likely will result in more arrests.

"It's been very difficult for me to estimate when this investigation is going to end," he said.

In the arrest warrant, Burke is accused of ordering testosterone, human growth hormone and other steroids via the Internet and giving them to bodybuilders with whom he

worked out at a Tulsa gym.

Burke reportedly said he had been using steroids for about 20 years and disposed of them when he heard about the investigation, Surber wrote in the arrest warrant.

Authorities interviewed Burke at the gym about a week before his arrest and found the testosterone and human growth hormone in his car. He told investigators he got them from a friend to prepare for a bodybuilding competition, Surber said.

Matt Barnard 581-8408
matt.barnard@tulsaworld.com By MATT BARNARD World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Carlos, Tulsa (6/7/2009 5:04:17 PM) Great use of tax dollars! Ridiculous!
	Report Comment malayna, (6/10/2009 12:58:35 PM) really? A widespread steroid distribution ring? What makes it a drug ring? Regardless, why do we care whether some guys want to take steroids or not? I want the meth head down the street hauled into the pokie! Quit spending my tax money on this crap and get the real criminals off the streets!

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