Timone
01-15-2008, 04:57 PM
Rap bad boy 50 Cent is at the center of a new criminal probe - for alleged steroid use.
The hip hop superstar is one of several superstar musicians at the center of an amazing official investigation into using drugs to pump up their pecs.
The stars being eyed also include beefy producer Timbaland, former Fugee star Wyclef Jean, award-winning author and producer Tyler Perry - and even Grammy-winning favourite Mary J Blige, according to U.S. reports.
Their names came up as part of a probe into Florida doctor Dr. Gary Brandwein - the man accused of supplying steroids to WWE star Chris Benoit who went on to kill his wife and son before killing himself.
Blige is accused of having received multiple shipments of HGH and anabolic steroids, according to records obtained by Albany reporters.
But the singer blasted the report.
"Mary J. Blige has never taken any performance-enhancing illegal steroids," the singer's spokeswoman Karynne Tencer said.
Representatives for the other named stars have yet to comment.
The report claimed that Blige, 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean all allegedly had steroids or HGH sent to Long Island chiropractor Michael Diamond, an anti-aging consultant. Diamond, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, could not be reached.
Sources insist that authorities have uncovered no evidence that the celebrities violated any drug laws.
Instead the investigation is aiming to cut the steroids pipeline by cracking down on suppliers the District Attorney compared to modern-day cocaine dealers.
For now, at least, officials are focusing on the doctors, pharmacists and clinics providing the drugs.
The unproven anti-aging effects of steroids have tempted entertainers, experts said.
Soares' probe has zeroed in on Signature Compounding Pharmacy of Orlando, Florida, as being at the center of a web of businesses and doctors that illegally wrote prescriptions for steroids.
The investigation drew national attention almost a year ago when authorities raided Signature. The company's owners and the pharmacy's operators are awaiting trial in Albany on related charges.
Soares' investigation into Signature has also uncovered the names of several major U.S. baseball players who have allegedly ordered steroids from the pharmacy.
So far, 10 people have pleaded guilty to felony charges, including three doctors and the operators of anti-aging clinics in Texas, Florida and New York.
"Pretty much anyone with a computer can go out and obtain things that shouldn't be obtained without the control or observation of a treating physician," Soares said.
According to the Times-Union of Albany, reports claim that:
50 Cent: The rapper - real name Curtis James Jackson III - is alleged to have received shipments of steroids at his mansion in Farmington, Connecticut.
In July 2006 an order was mailed to his residence under the name "Michael Jordan" and also at a residence on Oakmont Drive in Los Angeles. Steroids in his name also were mailed to the office of a Long Island chiropractor.
Jackson's representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Mary J. Blige, 37: Between August 2005 and January 2007 Blige allegedly received multiple shipments from an Orlando pharmacy of Jentropin, a human growth hormone, and Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, in orders sent to her at the Beverly Hills Hotel, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Clay Gym in New York City.
At least one of the orders was mailed under the name "Marlo Stanfield," which is the character name of a drug kingpin on the Baltimore-based HBO crime drama The Wire.
Timbaland: The music producer - real name Timothy Z. Mosley - allegedly received shipments of human growth hormone and anabolic steroids between October 2005 and September 2006 at his Miami residence and at the office of a Long Island chiropractor.
Mosley could not be reached for comment.
Wyclef Jean The Fugees' Haitian-born founder, a Grammy Award-winning musician and self-described social activist, had prescriptions in his name for human growth hormone and Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, shipped to the office of a New York chiropractor in August 2005.
Jean's publicist declined to comment.
Tyler Perry The award-winning playwright, actor, director and producer had prescriptions for anabolic steroids and growth hormone shipped in his name to his business and studio headquarters in Atlanta in 2005 and 2006.
Perry could not be reached for comment.
http://nz.entertainment.yahoo.com/080114/6/3lf5.html
The hip hop superstar is one of several superstar musicians at the center of an amazing official investigation into using drugs to pump up their pecs.
The stars being eyed also include beefy producer Timbaland, former Fugee star Wyclef Jean, award-winning author and producer Tyler Perry - and even Grammy-winning favourite Mary J Blige, according to U.S. reports.
Their names came up as part of a probe into Florida doctor Dr. Gary Brandwein - the man accused of supplying steroids to WWE star Chris Benoit who went on to kill his wife and son before killing himself.
Blige is accused of having received multiple shipments of HGH and anabolic steroids, according to records obtained by Albany reporters.
But the singer blasted the report.
"Mary J. Blige has never taken any performance-enhancing illegal steroids," the singer's spokeswoman Karynne Tencer said.
Representatives for the other named stars have yet to comment.
The report claimed that Blige, 50 Cent, Timbaland and Wyclef Jean all allegedly had steroids or HGH sent to Long Island chiropractor Michael Diamond, an anti-aging consultant. Diamond, who has not been accused of wrongdoing, could not be reached.
Sources insist that authorities have uncovered no evidence that the celebrities violated any drug laws.
Instead the investigation is aiming to cut the steroids pipeline by cracking down on suppliers the District Attorney compared to modern-day cocaine dealers.
For now, at least, officials are focusing on the doctors, pharmacists and clinics providing the drugs.
The unproven anti-aging effects of steroids have tempted entertainers, experts said.
Soares' probe has zeroed in on Signature Compounding Pharmacy of Orlando, Florida, as being at the center of a web of businesses and doctors that illegally wrote prescriptions for steroids.
The investigation drew national attention almost a year ago when authorities raided Signature. The company's owners and the pharmacy's operators are awaiting trial in Albany on related charges.
Soares' investigation into Signature has also uncovered the names of several major U.S. baseball players who have allegedly ordered steroids from the pharmacy.
So far, 10 people have pleaded guilty to felony charges, including three doctors and the operators of anti-aging clinics in Texas, Florida and New York.
"Pretty much anyone with a computer can go out and obtain things that shouldn't be obtained without the control or observation of a treating physician," Soares said.
According to the Times-Union of Albany, reports claim that:
50 Cent: The rapper - real name Curtis James Jackson III - is alleged to have received shipments of steroids at his mansion in Farmington, Connecticut.
In July 2006 an order was mailed to his residence under the name "Michael Jordan" and also at a residence on Oakmont Drive in Los Angeles. Steroids in his name also were mailed to the office of a Long Island chiropractor.
Jackson's representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Mary J. Blige, 37: Between August 2005 and January 2007 Blige allegedly received multiple shipments from an Orlando pharmacy of Jentropin, a human growth hormone, and Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, in orders sent to her at the Beverly Hills Hotel, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Clay Gym in New York City.
At least one of the orders was mailed under the name "Marlo Stanfield," which is the character name of a drug kingpin on the Baltimore-based HBO crime drama The Wire.
Timbaland: The music producer - real name Timothy Z. Mosley - allegedly received shipments of human growth hormone and anabolic steroids between October 2005 and September 2006 at his Miami residence and at the office of a Long Island chiropractor.
Mosley could not be reached for comment.
Wyclef Jean The Fugees' Haitian-born founder, a Grammy Award-winning musician and self-described social activist, had prescriptions in his name for human growth hormone and Oxandrolone, an anabolic steroid, shipped to the office of a New York chiropractor in August 2005.
Jean's publicist declined to comment.
Tyler Perry The award-winning playwright, actor, director and producer had prescriptions for anabolic steroids and growth hormone shipped in his name to his business and studio headquarters in Atlanta in 2005 and 2006.
Perry could not be reached for comment.
http://nz.entertainment.yahoo.com/080114/6/3lf5.html