4 arrests made in steroids probe

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jul 23, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office seized $15,000 worth of anabolic steroids and arrested four people during an undercover operation targeting steroid use in gyms around the parish.

Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said that a seven-month investigation has identified at least 100 users — some of them high school students — and 15 steroids dealers.

“This is the largest steroid seizure in St. Landry Parish history,” Guidroz said Tuesday.

Anabolic steroids are illegal drugs known widely as performance enhancing supplements. They help speed injury recovery and increase muscle mass. Steroids have also been the topic of several high profile investigations in the professional sports arena.

Detectives gathered information that dealers were selling to people varying in age from 17 to 50 years old. Some of those investigated were high school students.

Those arrested varied from people who were unemployed to those who worked for huge companies, Guidroz said while declining to release the names of those companies.

“A lot are professional people who certainly know better,” Guidroz said.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives purchased and seized about 60 bottles of anabolic steroids in liquid form and about 600 doses in pill form. Most were ordered online and some originated in Mexico, according to a news release.

• Ty Johnson, of Eunice, for distribution of steroids, possession with intent to distribute steroids, illegal carrying of weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to distribute Lortab.

• Holly Fontenot, of Eunice, for possession with intent to distribute steroids, illegal carrying of weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute Lortab and obstruction of justice.

• Adrian Savoie, of Opelousas, for possession with intent to distribute steroids, possession of drug paraphernalia (two counts) and possession of steroids.

• Terri A. Kirkpatrick, of Opelousas, for possession of Lidocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The ages of the four arrested were not immediately available.

More warrants have been issued but arrests have not been made.