Richard Thomas Uses Arrest As An Opportunity to Capture National Spotlight
Richard “Andy” Thomas was extremely cooperative and friendly with undercover narcotics detectives as he was arrested along with his wife on various charges related to the distribution of anabolic steroids. Agents with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided the Lakeland Florida home of Richard and Sandra Thomas and recovered approximately $200,000 worth of anabolic steroids and ancillary drugs. Afterwards, Thomas bragged about the scope of his steroid distribution stating that he was currently the largest steroid dealer in Central Florida and, at one time during the past decade, the entire State of Florida. Such boastful and incriminating statements are highly unusual among steroid dealers when they are arrested. Most dealers are not as forthcoming with information about their illegal activities.
Richard Thomas, perhaps seeing his arrest as an opportunity to capture the national spotlight, continued talking to detectives about his illegal steroid business, specifically about customers who played professional baseball, hockey and football. The naming of pro athletes using steroids is a surefire method of gaining the full attention of law enforcement, prosecutors and sportswriters. Consequently, Thomas’s claim that he sold steroids to members of the Washington Capitals hockey team and Washington Nationals baseball team had its desired effect.
"He claimed to have sold drugs to professional sports people," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd told A.J. Perez of USA Today during a phone interview. "He said, 'You pick the sport and I sold it to them.' We pressed him further and he said he sold steroids to the Washington Capitals and the Nationals."
Thomas started using anabolic steroids to become a celebrity like his hero Arnold Schwarzenegger. This plan may not have materialized as anticipated but Thomas seems willing to use the media and criminal justice system to gain a certain measure of fame (or infamy) as a dealer for pro athletes. The self-aggrandizing Polk County Sheriff Judd seemed happy to oblige by holding a national press conference to share the admittedly unsubstantiated allegations.
Thomas stopped talking to detectives shortly after a public defender was appointed to represent him. However, the silence was short-lived. Thomas agreed to a jailhouse interview with the New York Daily News during which he promised to share details of a “huge story” once he was released from jail. Thomas is being held in Polk County Jail on a $425,000 bond.
There is widespread skepticism from all sides regarding the veracity of Thomas’ claims. The Washington Capitals and Washington Nationals have predictably denied the allegation citing their perfect record of steroid testing.
“We have no reason to believe there is any merit to this story, but the National Hockey League and the Washington Capitals take all such allegations seriously,” responded the Capitals in an official statement. “Capitals players have fully participated in the NHL’s random drug testing program, and at no point has a Capitals player tested positive.”
“I don't have any particular concerns, because as you've seen in recent times, baseball has the most stringent testing for performance-enhancing drugs,” Nationals team president Stan Kasten said in response to the allegations. “Players run afoul of rules, they're caught, and they're disciplined."
Sheriff Judd admits that the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has no information to corroborate the claims made by Thomas. Thomas’ computer and hard drive were seized by investigators during the raid but their contents have not been analyzed. It is likely that the names of several customers could be uncovered during forensic analysis of the hard drive. It is unknown whether the names of professional athletes will be discovered. Nonetheless, Judd wants to believe Thomas.
“At this point in time, we have no corroboration about what he said about professional athletes, but he has two things that give him credibility,” Judd rationalized. “Number one, he had every imaginable steroid you can get in his house. Number two, why pick two teams that are obscure in our area? Why not say the Orlando Magic, Tampa Bay Rays or the Florida Panthers, or the New York Yankees or the Detroit Tigers, who have spring training facilities in our area?”
Richard Thomas and Sandra Thomas have both been charged with ten counts of “possession of anabolic steroids with intent to sell or distribute”; ten counts of “importation of anabolic steroids into the State of Florida”; one count of “maintaining a dwelling for drug sales”; and one count of “possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.” Sandra Thomas has been released after posting a $215,000 bond; Richard Thomas remains in Polk County.
Sources
“MLB, NHL investigating steroids claims,” May 28, 2009
“Steroid suspect Richard Thomas juiced to 'be like' Arnold Schwarzenegger,” May 28, 2009
“Kasten: 'I Don't Have Any Particular Concerns',” May 27, 2009
“D.C. teams looking into statements made in Polk steroids case,” May 27, 2009
By Millard Baker
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