Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994                   TAG: 9405040123
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                 LENGTH: Medium

TWO RADFORD MEN FACE STEROIDS CHARGE

Kevin W. Matthews, 24, of the 200 block of Roosevelt Avenue and Marc Andrew Johnson, 22, of the 200 block of Downey Street were each charged Friday with conspiring to possess and attempting to possess steroids.

The charges are the result of a joint investigation by Virginia State Police, United States Customs and the U.S. Postal Service. Two other people were charged Tuesday with the same offenses and another person is expected to be arrested later this week, said William R. Bess, assistant special agent in charge for the state police Drug Diversion Investigation Unit in Richmond.

Aaron Allen Peters, 21, of Woodbridge and Brian Vincent Smith, 25, of Sterling turned themselves in to Fairfax County authorities Tuesday, Bess said.

The misdemeanor charges are the result of a continuing investigation from last summer, when Michael R. Conner, a Radford University senior, was charged with illegally importing

anabolic steroids with intent to distribute.

Conner was charged after U.S. Customs agents traced a mailed package of steroids to Conner's address last spring and rigged it with an electronic device that would alert them when it was opened. Police went to his apartment and found him with the opened package, according to court records.

Conner's case, a felony charge, was heard in U.S. District Court in Roanoke. He was placed on probation for two years. Bess said the five people now facing the misdemeanor charges will be tried in the state court system in Radford.

Customs agents first spotted the package at a special center in Loudoun County where they monitor international mail. The steroids were discovered when the package was checked to see if it contained the ladies watch, T-shirt and video cassette listed on a customs declaration.

Customs officials then took out most of the steroids, rewrapped the pack with the electronic device and mailed it to Conner's address.

Bess said authorities believe the five people being charged now were supposed to receive part of the shipment.

Authorities said last year that they found, in Conner's apartment, several sheets of paper with people's names beside names of certain steroids and what appeared to be dollar amounts.