DERRY — A Derry man entered a guilty plea in federal court for charges related to the possession with intent to distribute steroids and causing a drug to be misbranded after an interstate shipment, according to United States Attorney Jane E. Young.
Ralph Cardarelli, 44, faced the court on charges of steroid possession with the intent to distribute and causing a drug to become misbranded after being shipped across state lines.
Sentencing is set for April, and Cardarelli was initially indicted on Aug. 16.
Federal agents, executing a search warrant at Cardarelli’s home on March 23, found more than 4800 vials and bottles of substances suspected to be controlled and prescription drugs.
Among these were various types of anabolic steroids, including Nandrolone Phenylpropionate, Trenbolone Acetate, and Testosterone Cypionate.
The search also revealed evidence of Cardarelli importing, manufacturing, and packaging these drugs at his residence, as well as distributing them without prescriptions.
The maximum penalty for the charges is up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of 4 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Sentencing will be informed by the U.S.
Sentencing Guidelines and the relevant statutes.
The investigation was led by the Food & Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, with assistance from Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Derry Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.
