Ryan “Bench Monster” Kennelly has been indicted on multiple federal felony charges involving the importation, manufacture and distribution of anabolic steroids on January 25, 2013. The world-record setting powerlifter faces felony charges after a series of three separate steroid busts within the space of a year. The specific steroid charges filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington include:
- maintaining drug-involved premises
- possessing equipment to manufacture anabolic steroids
- possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids
- unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearm and ammunition
- importing anabolic steroids
- unlawful use of a communication facility to import anabolic steroids
- possession with intent to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids
- attempt to distribute anabolic steroids
Kennelly currently holds the World Powerlifting Organization (WPO) all-time world record in the assisted bench press. The assisted bench press category involves the use of a bench shirt. Kennelly pressed 1,075 pounds during the Pride Powerlifting Strength Wars competition at the StarFit gym in Kennewick, Washington on November 8, 2008.
The federal indictment relates to his third bust that involved the shipment of a package containing approximately 75 steroid vials via UPS to a customer in California on August 1, 2011. The package was seized by California Highway Patrol detectives. The return address was the same one Kennelly provided to Benton County Sheriff’s Office after a previous arrest. Four latent fingerprints inside the package also matched Kennelly’s.
Kennelly aka “Walter Spies” aka “Ryan White” allegedly manufactured various anabolic steroids in an underground laboratory (UGL) under the USA Labs label including homebrew versions of Deca Durabolin, Primobolan, Equipoise and testosterone. He also allegedly imported generic Dianabol from overseas for domestic distribution.
Laboratory equipment and steroid paraphernalia were also seized e.g. scales labels, color-coded caps, syringe filters, crimping tools, foil envelopes, solvents, test tubes and vials.
Kennelly was also the legal, registered owner of several firearms e.g. Henry Arms .22 caliber rifle, Glock 9mm caliber pistol (model 17), Colt .45 caliber pistol, Glock .45 caliber pistol (model 21) and a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber pistol (model 3601). However, the possession of firearms becomes illegal if the owner unlawfully consumes controlled substances such as anabolic steroids.
Kennelly pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Spokane. He is being held in the Spokane County Jail pending a bail hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno. If convicted, Kennelly faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Note: An indictment is only an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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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