NPC Texas Chairman Lee Thompson was found in possession of “large quantities of different types of anabolic steroids” when he was arrested on May 25, 2009 according to federal prosecutors. Fort Bend County Sheriff Deputies arrested Thompson after a federal grand jury indicted him on steroid conspiracy charges for his alleged involvement with the “Falkenhagen” group.
Chris Downey, the attorney for Lee Thompson, dismissed the government’s characterization of the “large quantities” of steroids in his client’s possession as inappropriate. Downey argued that the quantity of steroids found was “consistent with personal use” IF all the steroids that were expired and therefore unsuitable for use were EXCLUDED.
The Government has alleged that the defendant was in possession of large quantities of anabolic steroids at the time of his arrest. While defendant has not yet completed the process of discovery in this matter, defendant has a good faith reason to believe that a review of the substances to which the government refers would reveal that some of the items were not suitable for use as they had expired. Furthermore, the quantity remaining would constitute an amount consistent with personal use and is not properly characterized as large quantities.
The new details in the Lee Thompson case were made public when Downey requested permission for his client to travel outside the United States. Thompson and his fiancee had made extensive plans for their wedding on the Carribbean island of St. Lucia on July 4, 2009. However, as a condition of Thompson’s release on a $50,000 unsecured bond, Thompson had to surrender his passport and was prohibited from traveling outside the United States.
Prior to Mr. Thompson’s arrest, he became engaged and had made extensive arrangements to be married on July 4, 2009 on the Carribbean island of St. Lucia. His planned itinerary calls for airline travel from Houston on June 30, 2009 and returning from St. Lucia on July 7, 2009. Prior to his arrest, Mr. Thompson expended more than $15,000.00 in preparation for this event.
Mr. Thompson owns his residence in Sugarland, Texas and has been a resident of Texas for eighteen (18) years. He is gainfully employed as an environmental consultant for the Pepsi Company and is the owner of several local businesses. Mr. Thompson is also the father of five children who also reside in Sugarland. He expects his first grandchild to be born in Sugarland on July 18, 2009 and had previously planned the dates of his wedding to allow for his presence at the birth of his granddaughter. Defendant respectfully submits he does not pose a flight risk to the Court.
United States Attorney Tim Johnson and Assistant United States Attorney Martha Minnis remain unconvinced and are adamantly opposed Lee Thompson’s request to get married in St. Lucia. Fedeal prosecutors believe he is a significant flight risk while pending trial on a charge of “conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids.”
When the defendant was arrested May 25, 2009, he had large quantities of different types of anabolic steroids in his possession. Clearly, he had not discontinued his use of illegal drugs between the end of the charged conspiracy period and his recent arrest. He is not a good risk for travel outside the United States while pending trial in this matter.
The good news for Lee Thompson and his fiancee is that U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes saw it reasonable to allow the temporary return of his passport so that they can get married in St. Lucia on the Fourth of July.
U.S. Attorney Johnson and company will hope to have better luck when trying to keeping some of Thompson’s co-defendants in jail pending trial by convincing the judge that buying and selling steroids represents a “danger to the community.”
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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