NYPD delivers knockout blow to steroid-peddling at gyms; two dozen people accused in ring

September 7, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- Two dozen people, including a professional female boxer, were charged on Friday in an undercover investigation of two gyms suspected of peddling steroids and other drugs to aspiring boxers, body builders and other clients.

Cindy Serrano, 25, who fights under the nickname "Checkmate," was awaiting arraignment on charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance. She was ordered held on $10,000 bail.

Serrano's husband, Jordan Maldonado, 41, a manager and trainer at Envy Us Gym, also was facing charges and was ordered held without bail. A lawyer representing the couple did not immediately return a phone message.

Maldonado's gym and other location, Powerhouse Gym, were padlocked under court orders.

"Far from being healthy environments for the body and the mind, the gyms were allegedly turned into drug supermarkets of the many defendants who openly and illegally sold performance drugs," District Attorney Richard Brown said at a news conference.

The arrests followed an 18-month investigation -- dubbed "Operation Dumbbell" -- during which undercover detectives bought drugs dozens of times inside both gyms, said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

The gyms made tens of thousands of dollars each week by selling steroids "and a cornucopia of other drugs, including cocaine, Ecstasy and prescription drugs Oxycontin and Vicodin," Kelly said.

During a raid Thursday at the upscale home of one alleged supplier, investigators discovered a makeshift drug-making laboratory and gallon containers of liquid steroids. Inside one wing of the home, the suspect had on display a $240,000 Bentley and an $86,000 motorcycle, police said.

The same suspect tried to flee out an upper-floor window in his underwear before being caught by officers on his neighbor's roof. In separate raids, officers also seized a shotgun and a .357 Magnum.

"Many were pumping iron and a few were packing it," Kelly said.

In July, Serrano lost a title bout for the North American Boxing Federation's super featherweight belt. Police said there was no evidence that any other professional boxers were involved in the case.