Pair held in steroid bust

Mike Branom, Tribune

August 12, 2005 - 6:45AM

A husband and wife are in jail, accused of manufacturing and selling anabolic steroids in their Mesa apartment.

Scott and Toni Ferriss were arrested Wednesday night after police served a search warrant on their residence in the 200 block of North Gilbert Road.

Authorities said they found steroids in powdered form worth more than $100,000. They also confiscated $6,000 in cash.

The Ferrisses are being held at a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of possessing dangerous drugs for sale. Scott Ferriss, a Canadian citizen, is being held on $1 million bail; Toni Ferriss’ bail is $500,000.

The steroids seized are Winstrol, Dianabol, Androral (methyltestosterone) and furazabol, Mesa police said.

According to documents obtained by the Tribune, the

Ferriss’ apartment contained boxes and bottles filled with pills, plus equipment used in turning the steroids from powder into capsules. The equipment was found in the apartment’s master bathroom and master bedroom closet.

Authorities said the makeshift laboratory posed no health threat.

"This is a very, very typical set-up," steroids expert and author Will Carroll said. He added the powdered steroids are available from overseas, then "a college-level chemist can make the compounds."

Once the steroids are manufactured, Carroll said dealers and customers often communicate via Internet message boards, using code words. Then the dealer offers a useless or obscure item for sale on an online auction site. The customer buys the item, and money is legally sent to the dealer in exchange for the steroids.

"It’s your basic drug dealing," Carroll said. "But not quite the same social implications."

According to records, the bust began when police intercepted a package, containing a pound of powdered steroids, addressed to a fictitious business operating out of a local The UPS Store’s mailbox.

The package was delivered to The UPS Store, and after Scott Ferriss picked it up, the warrant was served, police said.