An alternative medicine practitioner from Arizona who once defiantly advocated the benefits of steroids tearfully pleaded for his freedom in Mobile last week.
U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade told Jesse S. Haggard that she appreciated his change of heart but added that she could not let him go free. She sentenced him to a year and a day in prison but recommended to federal corrections officials that he serve his time in a halfway house.
Haggard, 32, was one of 12 people indicted in 2008 as part of a long-running investigation into an online compounding pharmacy in Mobile, Applied Pharmacy Services.
But Haggard headed for Costa Rica, where he made radio appearances passionately defending the therapeutic benefits of steroids.
Reading from a prepared statement last week, Haggard renounced those views in a sob-filled apology.
"Although I feel my error was an error in knowledge more than an error in morality, I now tread more humbly," he told Granade.
Haggard admitted that he prescribed 4,880 dosage units of multiple anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and other drugs to patients who had no legitimate medical reason to take them.
Showing posts with label Jesse Haggard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesse Haggard. Show all posts
Jesse Haggard pleads not guilty as prosecutors seek removal of his defense lawyers.
"An alternative medicine practitioner pleaded not guilty last week to charges that he illegally sold anabolic steroids, while prosecutors sought to have his lawyers removed from the case.
It was Jesse S. Haggard's first appearance in Mobile since returning to the United States earlier this year. He was one of a dozen people named in a 198-count indictment last year as part of a long-running probe by the U.S. Attorney's office into the practices of Applied Pharmacy Services in Mobile.
Former U.S. Attorney David York has been accused of conflict of interest in steroids case.
Baer wrote that York has a conflict of interest since he was involved in the investigation that led to the prosecution and personally approved the task force that conducted the probe.
Coumanis, meanwhile, was a member of the law firm that represented a doctor who pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing steroids filled by the online pharmacy in Mobile. Baer wrote that prosecutors plan to call the doctor, Pamela Pyle, as a witness.
Coumanis declined to comment on the matter, and York could not be reached last week. Baer wrote that York told him he has no memory of his involvement in the investigation.
Haggard will remain jailed after Chief U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade affirmed the order of a federal magistrate judge in Orlando, where the defendant made his initial appearance. Haggard had been living in Costa Rica.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Dobbins responded in writing that Haggard continued to advocate steroids on his blog and in a radio interview, and that he admitted fleeing the U.S. to avoid prosecution. "To release Haggard from custody now would be an invitation to disappear -- never to be seen again," she wrote.
Coumanis said declined to detail his defense but said he is eager to "get to the heart of the matter and prove his innocence."
It was Jesse S. Haggard's first appearance in Mobile since returning to the United States earlier this year. He was one of a dozen people named in a 198-count indictment last year as part of a long-running probe by the U.S. Attorney's office into the practices of Applied Pharmacy Services in Mobile.
Former U.S. Attorney David York has been accused of conflict of interest in steroids case.
Baer wrote that York has a conflict of interest since he was involved in the investigation that led to the prosecution and personally approved the task force that conducted the probe.
Coumanis, meanwhile, was a member of the law firm that represented a doctor who pleaded guilty to illegally prescribing steroids filled by the online pharmacy in Mobile. Baer wrote that prosecutors plan to call the doctor, Pamela Pyle, as a witness.
Coumanis declined to comment on the matter, and York could not be reached last week. Baer wrote that York told him he has no memory of his involvement in the investigation.
Haggard will remain jailed after Chief U.S. District Judge Ginny Granade affirmed the order of a federal magistrate judge in Orlando, where the defendant made his initial appearance. Haggard had been living in Costa Rica.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Dobbins responded in writing that Haggard continued to advocate steroids on his blog and in a radio interview, and that he admitted fleeing the U.S. to avoid prosecution. "To release Haggard from custody now would be an invitation to disappear -- never to be seen again," she wrote.
Coumanis said declined to detail his defense but said he is eager to "get to the heart of the matter and prove his innocence."
Interesting blog post about pro-steroid Doctor Jesse Haggard, the former clinical director of Revolution Medical Centers.
"I left the US in order to have time, resources (like a computer and internet access) and limited distractions (such as media, law officials or medical board officials) to build a very organized case that justified my previous actions, of prescribing steroids to patients, beyond doubt to everyone. This was intended to be temporary.”
“I knew I needed to prove beyond doubt, in a context of steroid hysteria, that I had legitimate medical purpose and that the therapies were safe. I feel the evidence and logic promoting steroids is a landslide when viewing all of the evidence, especially when coupled with clinical observation.”
“I knew I needed to prove beyond doubt, in a context of steroid hysteria, that I had legitimate medical purpose and that the therapies were safe. I feel the evidence and logic promoting steroids is a landslide when viewing all of the evidence, especially when coupled with clinical observation.”
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