Pharmaceutical company heads to trial

MOBILE, Ala. - Trial began Monday in the case of a Mobile based pharmaceutical company accused of supplying steroids to athletes allegedly including Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield, retired baseball star Jose Canseco, and Los Angeles Angels center fielder Gary matthews.

Investigation into Applied Pharmacy Services of Mobile started in 2007. In 2008, 12 people were named in the 198 count federal indictment. They were accused of conspiracy to dispense and distribute anabolic steroids.

Monday, 11 of them went before Judge Ginny Granade at the Federal Courthouse in Mobile.

Brett Branch, an Applied Pharmacy sales representative from Colorado, is one of the men involved. He is accused of recruiting doctors to write prescriptions for steroids.

Investigators say pharmacists at Applied Pharmacy Services would fill and ship the prescriptions.

Court documents also name three Applied Pharmacy shareholders, Jason Kelley, Jody Silvio, and Samuel Kelley as participants in the conspiracy. They face charges that could land them up to five years in prison if convicted.

Pharmacists Michael Bennett, Robin Kelly, Mallory Mallon, and Roger Everett face the same charges.

Alternative medical practitioner Jesse Haggard, and Ronald Winter are also named as distributors.

The indictment accuses James Abernathy and Daniel Riedel of selling illegal prescriptions.

The trial will continue Tuesday, January 5 at 9:00 a.m.

Applied Pharmacy Services was located off International Drive in Mobile. New owners took over office space, and renamed it in June 2008.