Complaints Unsealed Against Memphis Fire Department Employee
and Two Others Involved in Illegal Steroids Distribution

Memphis , TN - Today, federal criminal complaints were unsealed which charged three defendants with violations involving illegal trafficking in anabolic steroids. One of the defendants is employed by the Memphis Fire Department. This is part of the same investigation that resulted in the arrest of Memphis Police Department Sergeant Brady Valentine on November 9, 2007. This announcement was made today by David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, Larry Godwin, Director of Police Services for the City of Memphis, My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Memphis Division, and Mark Luttrell, Shelby County Sheriff.

Defendant Steven Craig (age 30) is a City of Memphis Fireman, and, according to the affidavit supporting the complaint against him, he sold steroids to an informant on February 22, 2007. In addition, according to the affidavit, in March and April 2007, another informant negotiated a separate steroids purchase from Craig through a series of recorded conversations.

Defendant Aaron Duke (age 30) is charged in the complaint against him with distributing steroids and agreeing to assist an informant in transporting and storing vehicles which Duke was led to believe contained marijuana and methamphetamine. The affidavit alleged that Duke sold steroids to the informant on June 22, 2007, July 24, 2007 and September 17, 2007.

Defendant Daniel W. Manus (age 24) is charged in the complaint against him with use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony violation of the Controlled Substances Act. According to the affidavit, Manus’ telephone conversations with another individual were monitored pursuant to a court order, and in conversations in September 2007, Manus and this individual coordinated efforts to sell steroids and dispense the proceeds.

Penalties

The complaints against Craig and Duke allege violations of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 (attempted possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute) and Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) (distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute). The penalties for such violations involving the drugs specified in the complaints are a maximum prison term of five years, a $250,000 maximum fine, plus two years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The complaint against Duke also alleges that he violated Title 21, United States Code, Section 856, which makes it a crime for an owner or renter to permit the premises’ use to unlawfully store or distribute a controlled substance. A violation of this section is punishable by a maximum prison term of twenty years, a $500,000 maximum fine, plus three years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The complaint against Manus alleges violations of Title 21, United States Code, section 843(b) (use of a communications facility to facilitate a felony violation of the Controlled Substances Act), and the penalties for violating this section are a maximum prison term of four years, a $250,000 maximum fine, plus one year supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Other Sources for Information About Anabolic Steroids

The press release describing the November 9, 2007, arrest of Sergeant Brady Valentine lists internet links to materials provided by the DEA, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which describe steroids, their effects, the extent of the abuse of these drugs and other enforcement actions against steroids manufacturers and traffickers.

Conclusion

The FBI, DEA, Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the IRS are participating in Operation Tarnished Blue, and this matter was investigated as part of Operation Tarnished Blue. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Murphy, with the Memphis office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.