After more than a year of fighting steroids accusations and money laundering, James A. Abernathy, a Colorado-based businessman finally pleaded guilty to charges filed against him and to eleven more defendants.
Abernathy pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute steroids and one count money laundering last week at a Mobile court in Alabama.
He was the first to make such plea among a group of twelve, all involved in the investigations conducted by authorities on Applied Pharmacy Services.
The pharmacy performed its operations in Mobile, Alabama, catering to customers across the whole country. According to court reports, the pharmacy allegedly sold and distributed anabolic steroids in thousands of doses.
Abernathy also agreed to return $5,000 worth of proceeds from their sales of anabolic steroids and he agreed to surrender the money used to facilitate the conspiracy.
In a bargain plea, Abernathy’s legal counsel negotiated with state prosecutors to lessen the terms of imprisonment for their client, based on existing sentencing guidelines advisory.
In addition, if state prosecutors deemed that he has provided “substantial assistance”, his punishments could be further lowered. “Substantial assistance” referred to by prosecutors would mean that Abernathy will testify against his other co-defendants.
From Al.com:
MOBILE, Ala. -- A Colorado businessman pleaded guilty in Mobile last week to steroid charges, representing the first break in a unified front that a dozen defendants have put up since their indictment last year as part of a long-running probe.
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