Authorities trumpet massive steroids bust in Polk
by Samara Sodos

LAKELAND - Deputies said they have plenty of evidence that Richard Thomas and his wife, Sandra, were big-time steroid dealers. At a Tuesday night news conference announcing their arrest, Polk County sheriff's officials were surrounded by thousands of doses of anabolic steroids.

What investigators aren't sure of is whether Richard Thomas, 35, is telling the truth when he said he is the biggest steroid provider in Central Florida and that he sold mostly to professional athletes, including those on the Washington Capitals hockey team and Washington Nationals baseball team.

The Thomases were arrested Tuesday after a tip from the Philadelphia office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sheriff Grady Judd said when the pair were arrested, detectives seized an estimated $200,000 in illegal steroids.

Richard and Sandra Thomas are each charged with 10 counts of possession of anabolic steroids with intention to sell and deliver; one count of possession of a firearm in commission of a felony; 10 counts of importation of anabolic steroids in Florida; and one count of maintaining a residence for selling drugs. Sheriff's officials said they lived at 1087 Stoney Creek Drive in Lakeland.

Authorities also confiscated a variety of weapons, which Richard Thomas told investigators were for his personal protection, Judd said. He said far from being uncooperative, Thomas openly bragged about selling steroids, though he wouldn't name names.

"I can tell you this, there will be a whole lot of people puckered up after the morning news,'' Judd said.

The sheriff said when Thomas was asked whether he had sold steroids to professional athletes, he replied, " "You name the sport, and I've sold steroids to athletes who play it."

Judd said the bust was the largest seizure of steroids in Polk County history and one of the largest in the region. He said Thomas told investigators he bought the steroids from around the world.

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