Prosecutors representing the State of Florida and Albany County (New York) methodically planned to prosecute Signature Pharmacy in two separate steroid investigations in a manner that would deprive the defendants of protections against double jeopardy according to court documents.
William N. Shepherd, the Statewide Prosecutor for the Florida Attorney General, and David Soares and Christopher Baynes, prosecutors for the Albany County District Attorney’s Office in New York allegedly had a secret in-person meeting where they specifically planned complex legal proceedings in two jurisdictions to make it more difficult for Signature to defend itself. The plan was detailed in a report by Mark Haskins, an investigator with the New York Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, who worked with Albany County District Attorney David Soares in the Signature Pharmacy steroid investigation.
MESO-Rx learned of the secret plan when it was revealed in a lawsuit by Signature Pharmacy against David Soares, Christopher Baynes, Albany County District Attorney’s Office, Mark Haskins, City of Orlando, and Alex Wright (“Signature Pharmacy vs. David Soares et al (PDF),” October 3).
In one in person meeting between the Individual Defendants and Statewide Prosecutor in Orange County, Florida, a plan was developed for the specific purpose of dividing the resources of SIGNATURE and forcing it and its principals to defend themselves in complex proceedings in two different jurisdictions with no opportunity to assert their rights under the Double Jeopardy Clause of the United States Constitution. This plan was noted by Defendant Haskins in an investigative report relating to SIGNATURE.
Now that David Soares case against Signature Pharmacy has been dismissed, it appears the the State of Florida is proceeding with the plan devised several years ago in the secret meeting between William Shepherd and David Soares and Christopher Baynes.
The Statewide Prosecutor has already sent letters to thousands of customers of Signature Pharmacy requesting permission to review their prescription records. Recipients of such letters have been understandably alarmed that their medical prescription records are being invaded as part of a steroid witch-hunt by another government agency.
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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