By now most understand, possessing illegal steroids can bring enormous amounts of unwanted trouble your way. Quite often the difference between sitting comfortably in your own living room versus bending over for the soap in a prison shower is only a signed piece of paper away. If you’re confused it’s easy to explain; you can legally possess anabolic steroids with a prescription but without the prescription these same hormones turn into illegal steroids, it’s that simple. There are varying consequences regarding possession of illegal steroids and that’s what we want to delve into here.
In most cases personal users are not the primary targets of law enforcement as they once were only a few short years ago. Many law enforcement agencies have made their primary point of investigation to be that of dealers, especially on the federal level but don’t get too excited and think as a personal user you’re out of the water. Although federal law enforcements primary target is dealers, many local law enforcement offices still regularly use personal possession charges as a means to snag a bigger fish. It is not uncommon for an individual who uses anabolic steroids for his own personal benefit to in-turn “help” a fellow friend. Year after year cases like these pop up and the one little amp of testosterone you sold your buddy to help him out, well this just turned you into a dealer as far as the law is concerned and this gives them all they need to kick in your door. Once inside your house and they discover your own personal supply of illegal steroids, you can be charged with felony possession with the intent to sell.
With the increasing ease with which illegal steroids can be bought online it is not uncommon for a shipment of anabolic steroids to be seized by a customs agent. In many cases the package is kept, you are issued a formal letter advising you of the situation and that’s all there is to it. In other cases and it’s not as uncommon as it once was and occurs on a regular basis, law enforcement agents will perform what is known as a “Controlled Delivery.” In doing so an undercover officer will deliver your illegal steroids to your house or place of business disguised perhaps as your local mailman. Once you accept the package and the anabolics are in your hand that’s all she wrote and you’ve just been charged with a felony.
The customs seizer situation and the “helping a friend” scenario are perhaps the most common form of individual anabolic steroid charges but keep in mind, as we’ve discussed it is very easy for a simple possession to turn into possession with the intent to sell. The amounts you have in your possession can be deemed beyond what is accepted as personal use and these amounts are low, very low.
It is impossible to say what type of punishment you will receive if you are arrested and charged with an anabolic steroid violation. Your past history will greatly affect this outcome perhaps more so than anything else; meaning, if your record is clean the odds are in your favor. Even so, at times and it often depends on the state in question, some individuals are made examples of. Regardless of your prior history you can rest assured the results will not be pretty. The cost of legal counsel and absolutely guaranteed high court fines will put a burden on almost anyone but this is only the beginning. On top of the minimum $1,000 court fine for a first time offender, possession alone can lead to up to one year in prison plus fines; we’re speaking of simple personal possession without the intent to sell attached.
If you enter the realm of possession with the intent to sell and again, we cannot stress enough, it is very easy for this charge to be placed upon you even if you’re not a dealer and if it is things may get far worse than we laid out above. Although it is uncommon for personal possession offenders to see jail time compared to personal possession of illegal steroids with the intent to sell, this is where things can get a little gray. Again, your prior history weighs greatly on the matter but so does the state in-which you violated the law. Some states have a more stringent policy surrounding illegal steroids; coupled with history and the attorney you get as well as conducting yourself in a proper manner once arrested will greatly determine whether or not you see the inside of a jail cell. Further, if other illegal drugs are discovered in your home or firearms, even hunting rifles legally bought, you can be assured the charges and penalty will be very steep.
Unlike the rest of the controlled substance world, the anabolic world is very unique. Most offenders of anabolic steroid laws and by most we mean almost every single one are generally a first time offenders, and otherwise law abiding citizens. Most individuals who are charged with felony steroid charges are no different than your neighbors, your coworkers or even you. Some federal studies have insinuated anabolic steroid use in the U.S. touches some three-million Americans; however, more apt independent estimates have the number as high as six-million adult anabolic steroid users in the United States alone. Not since the era of prohibition have we seen such a large number of decent law abiding citizens arrested for personal choices that affect them alone but as just or misguided as the law may be it is the law and if you break it don’t cry you didn’t know when the hammer of justice crushes you.
