Hgh Illegal/scams

Three from HGH clinic plead guilty

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS

Friday, March 28th 2008, 4:00 AM

Three men affiliated with a Florida anti-aging clinic at the heart of Major League Baseball's steroid scandal pleaded guilty Thursday to drug-related charges in Albany County (N.Y.) District Court.

Glen Stephanos, the co-owner of the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony. Under the terms of his plea bargain, Stephanos faces five years' probation, must forfeit $350,000 and will testify against the remaining defendants arrested in Albany District Attorney David Soares' "Operation Which Doctor."

His brother, PBRC marketing director George Stephanos, and PBRC employee Ryan Dumas pleaded guilty to conspiracy, a misdemeanor. Both men agreed to pay a $1,000 fine and testify against other defendants.

According to the Mitchell Report on doping in baseball, the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center supplied human growth hormone and steroids to several baseball players, including Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd, who bought nearly $25,000 worth of HGH in 13 transactions between August 2002 and January 2005.

Source: Daily News