San Ysidro
In what officials say is an example of a growing trend in the smuggling of steroids, a 20-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to smuggle the drugs across the border at San Ysidro.
Scott Stewart Hamill of Mill Valley was arrested by U.S. Customs inspectors Thursday after they found 60 syringes of Deca-Durabolin and 500 tablets of Oxandrolone concealed in the trunk of his car, U.S. Atty. Peter Nunez said.
After Hamill pleaded guilty, U.S. Magistrate Roger Curtis McKee suspended his sentence and placed him on probation for two years. Hamill claimed the steroids were for personal use, but federal law prohibits import of the drug in any quantity or for any purpose.
Nunez said the conviction was the second steroid-based incident handled by his office in the past 10 days. Steroids are increasingly being used by college, high school, and professional athletes throughout the country to improve strength quickly.
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