Posted on 07/15/2005 7:42:37 AM PDT by SmithL
Victor Conte, accused mastermind of the BALCO steroids conspiracy, has agreed to a plea bargain that will require him to spend four months in federal prison for distributing banned drugs to elite athletes, a source familiar with the case told The Chronicle.
Conte, the founder of the Burlingame-based nutritional supplements company that became the flash point for an international sports doping scandal, is scheduled to appear at a hearing in U.S. District Court in San Francisco today. His lawyers are expected to ask Judge Susan Illston to approve the plea, which was reached after negotiations with federal prosecutors in the office of U.S Attorney Kevin Ryan.
Conte has agreed to plead guilty to charges of distributing banned drugs and money laundering, said the source, who asked not to be quoted by name because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.
In addition to a four-month prison term, he faces an additional four months of house arrest, said the source.
Conte and his attorneys could not be reached for comment.
Conte's three co-defendants also were said to be attempting to negotiate pleas so they could avoid trial in the case. They are Greg Anderson, personal weight trainer to San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds; BALCO Vice President James Valente; and Remy Korchemny, an elite track coach who lives in Castro Valley.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I wonder if Barry "I can't hit my pre-steroid body weight in the playoffs" Bonds will catch any flack from this.
Who cares?!
Oh No--the dreaded house arrest.
Paging Martha Stewart.
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