Jan 29, 2008 9:43 pm US/Central
Accused Bodybuilder Talks About Steroid Probe
Reporting
Jack Fink
PLANO (CBS 11 News) ―
A professional body builder from Plano faces federal charges in the area's largest steroid investigation.
CBS 11 reporter Jack Fink broke the story connected to 'Operation Raw Deal'. Tuesday night he spoke with the accused bodybuilder. CBS 11 News found Art Atwood as he was leaving his North Dallas nutrition shop.
Plano police arrested Atwood last May, but he has yet to be charged.
In 2007, local police officers, along with officials from the Federal and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, searched Atwood's Plano apartment and found small amounts of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and nearly $7,000 in cash.
When asked if he expected to be charged Atwood responded, "We'll find out in the next few months. It's a big investigation."
Federal prosecutors aren't commenting, but records show the investigation into Atwood began one month after police and federal agents raided the house of amateur Plano bodybuilder David Jacobs.
Police and agents seized tens of thousands of units of anabolic steroids, pills, and powder last April in Jacobs' underground lab.
Jacobs pled guilty to the charges against him and may not receive prison time in exchange for his cooperation with federal prosecutors.
"David [Jacobs] did his own thing," Atwood said. "I was my own entity, so that's all I can really comment on."
Jacobs claims to have ties to Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons football players, but he wouldn't mention names. Both teams have denied knowing him.
Atwood says he has no ties to the NFL organization.
Others charged in the investigation include Matt Williams, Andrew Schenck, Jacobs' former girlfriend Amber Jarrell, and three others.
When Atwood was asked if he was concerned that he could go to prison he said, "I think everyone is concerned with that."
Currently there are no allegations of wrong-doing surrounding Atwood's nutrition shop.
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