Lawyer gets needled for giving 'roid advice, By: Michael O’Keeffe
Sunday, May 27th 2007
A Long Island criminal defense attorney nationally known as a steroid law expert and an outspoken critic of the war on performance-enhancing drugs could be in legal trouble himself.
Rick Collins, a former Nassau County prosecutor whose clients have included BALCO chemist Patrick Arnold, advised wellness centers and an Orlando pharmacy on how to skirt the law to sell steroids and growth hormone, a New York drug agent testified in a Florida courtroom earlier this month.
Mark Haskins, a senior investigator for the New York State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, told the Kissimmee court that Collins helped the companies maneuver through the "gray area" of steroid law, according to a transcript obtained by the Daily News. Haskins testified that some of the advice Collins gave was "in fact, illegal in New York state."
Collins, author of "Legal Muscle: Anabolics in America," received more than $40,000 from Palm Beach Rejuvenation, MedX Life, Oasis Longevity and Rejuvenation and other businesses involved in what Albany District Attorney David Soares has called a multistate scheme to sell steroids. Soares' investigation has resulted in 21 indictments and seven guilty pleas so far.
The May 18 hearing was held after defense attorneys in the case asked the Florida court to seal hundreds of pages of wiretap transcripts an Orlando task force had provided to Albany prosecutors. The defense attorneys argued that Albany authorities violated Florida law by showing the wiretap transcripts to an Albany County grand jury because the transcripts had been under seal at the time.
The defense attorneys appealed after Osceola County Circuit Court Judge John Kest ruled that Florida officials were entitled to share the wiretap transcripts. The appeals court ruled Friday that Florida officials and Albany prosecutors had acted properly.
Based on Haskins' testimony, the Florida court also agreed that there was evidence that Collins may have violated the law. Attorney-client conversations are privileged in the U.S. and can't be introduced as evidence in Florida unless they violate the state's crime-fraud exception.
Collins has not been charged with a crime and is identified in the transcript only as "Attorney A" because Florida court officials wanted to protect his privacy and the integrity of Soares' ongoing investigation. Several sources familiar with the Florida hearing, however, confirmed that Collins is "Attorney A" after his name was inadvertently disclosed in open court.
Haskins testified that Collins told a Long Island doctor named Norman Haywood - who has not been accused of criminal activity - not to use New York state official forms when writing prescriptions for steroids. New York state officials would be unable to monitor prescriptions if they were not written on official paperwork.
Haskins also said Collins coached another doctor on how to avoid detection for growth hormone prescriptions.
"He had stated that 'Attorney A' had told him with regards to growth hormone that just make sure their levels are a little low and to write a diagnosis that was hard to prove, like fibromyaglia," Haskins testified. "This doctor stated that he knew that this was probably illegal, but he did it anyway."
Collins, a popular source for reporters looking for a contrarian view on performance-enhancing drugs, did not return calls for comment. In interviews with the media and in public presentations, he argues that steroids, when taken responsibly by adult males, are beneficial.
The former bodybuilder testified before a congressional panel about steroid precursors in 2003.
Collins is also an actor who appeared in an episode of "The Sopranos," as well as numerous films made by Troma Entertainment, the New Jersey production company famous for its low-budget horror parodies. According to the Internet Movie Data Base, Collins' film credits include roles in "The Toxic Avenger," "Class of Nuke 'Em High" and "Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV."
Shortly after investigators raided Signature Pharmacy and other businesses Soares has linked to the steroid ring, several defense attorneys told the Daily News and other media outlets that their clients did not have criminal intentions. They said their clients believed they were operating legally because they had consulted with Collins.
James E. Long, an Albany attorney who represents brothers Glenn Stephanos and George Stephanos of Palm Beach Rejuvenation in Jupiter, Fla., said his clients were introduced to Collins by "people at Signature." Both men have pleaded not guilty to drug charges.
"They paid him a reasonable legal fee and he came to their plant," Long said. "He never said they could not ship to New York."
