mugzy
TID Board Of Directors
- Aug 11, 2010
- 4,876
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A Luzerne County man allegedly involved in a transcontinental anabolic steroid ring will be tried in county court.
Richard Piccarreta, 49, of Plymouth waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday morning for his involvement in the manufacture and distribution of anabolic steroids.
Thirteen people, including a probation officer and four current or former corrections officers were charged. Seven people charged were from Luzerne County.
Police dubbed the investigation “Operation Gym Candy.”
According to court documents, Piccarreta, a former Montour County Prison Officer, was allegedly responsible for importing raw materials from China and manufacturing the pills. He and Paul Dougal, 31, of Bloomsburg reportedly stuffed anabolic steroids into caplets or cooked the raw materials to fill vials so the drugs could be injected, authorities said.
The other six Luzerne County defendants accused of involvement in the operation — Pete Fischer of Ashley, John Taffera of Larksville, John Koch of Hanover Township, Kyle Goyne of Ashley, Brian Clarke of Hanover Township and Sheree Senausky of Trucksville — are currently awaiting their trials in county court.
Piccarreta, Taffera, Koch, Goyne, Clarke and Senausky are each out on $50,000 unsecured bail on the conditions that they must appear at every court summons, must not participate in criminal activity and must not be in contact with their co-defendants, among other conditions.
Piccarreta was charged with three counts of manufacturing, delivering or possession of anabolic steroids with intent to distribute; one count of risking catastrophe; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds; and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
His formal arraignment has been set for April 4 at 10 a.m. at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
