A several months long investigation into local steroid distribution has led to the arrest of three men. The men are believed to have operated a steroid manufacturing and distribution center out of a home in Middletown’s Quincy Hollow neighborhood.
Karl Morris, 46, of Yardley; Dennis Walker, 32, of Levittown; and Webster Adams III, 32, of Levittown, were charged in the case earlier this week.
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On June 20, 2016, a detective with the Bucks County Detectives, met with a cooperating source (CS). The source identified Morris and Walker as local individuals who import precursor chemicals from China and sell steroids both locally and online, as well as manufacturing ecstasy and counterfeit prescription pills, bringing in about $50,000 in profit every few weeks, according to court documents.
The source told officers that Adams was a known distributor for both Morris and Walker. They said that while their pill vials contain the names of seemingly real pharmaceutical companies, they are really manufactured and distributed out of a home in Levittown.
Throughout July and August 2016, in cooperation with the CS, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents and county investigators conducted controlled steroid purchases from Adams and Morris, court papers stated.
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Adams was reported to be telling the CS that he had received the drugs from Walker.
The controlled buys took place at various locations around the area; including Adams place of employment on Woerner Avenue in Bristol Township and a gym in Falls Township.
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The labels on the numerous vials collected in the controlled drug buys indicated they contained anabolic steroids, which are schedule III controlled substances.
According to the DEA, anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone that are abused in an attempt to promote muscle growth, enhance athletic or other physical performance, and improve physical appearance. The doses abused are often 10 to 100 times higher than the approved therapeutic and medical treatment dosages.
The first buy occurred on July 19 when the CS met with Adams in Bristol Township to purchase nearly $500 worth of their steroid product. The CS then met with Morris in Falls on July 28. It was then that Morris said he “didn’t do anything anymore” and that if the CS put a list of products together he would give the list to Walker, court papers stated.
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On August 2, the CS met once again with Morris at the Falls gym and provided him with an extensive handwritten list of requested steroids. While Morris originally complained about the extent of the order he verified that the source’s customer had money “up front”, and made arrangements for the source to pick up the order at an unspecified time for $2,500, police said.
On August 18, the source allegedly entered the gym to find Morris to pick up the agreed upon steroids. Morris, according to police record, became very agitated with the CS, saying he had been holding on to the product for a week and that the cost was now $3,500. The CS agreed with the new price and they agreed to meet the following day.
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On August 19, surveillance was established by law enforcement at Morris’ home in Yardley and the gym on Lincoln Highway in preparation for the controlled buy. The CS met with Morris outside of the gym shortly after 5:30 p.m. and gave him a black carry bag containing $3,500 of pre-recorded drug buy money, police said.
Morris then drove to his home from Yardley while the CS remained at the fitness center to wait for his return. Morris returned less than 30 minutes later and handed the agreed upon drugs to the CS through the window of a different vehicle, court papers stated.
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All of the agreed upon drugs during the controlled buys were held as evidence.
According to court documents, while Walker, Adams, and Morris were distributing and manufacturing steroids as Savage Pharmaceuticals, they did not register their business with the DEA as required by law.
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On August 23, search warrants were issued at Morris’ home in Yardley and Walker’s residence in Levittown. During the search, officials seized a shopping bag believed to be raw powder used to manufacture anabolic steroids. The raw material appeared to be packaged how products are shipped from Pharmade in China. Approximately $28,000 in cash was also seized from Morris’ bedroom closet, as well as a computer and printer which had been used to print labels with steroid identification markings. At Walker’s residence officers seized $3,800 from his bedroom, $800 of which was identified as the pre-recorded buy money used on August 19. From a second floor bedroom in the Quincy Hollow home officers seized paraphernalia known to manufacture steroids; including a vacuum pump, magnetic stirrer, hot plate, numerous unused glass vials, as well several liquid anabolic steroid bottles. Officers also seized eleven firearms from the home.
All three men have been charged with drug related felonies and have been released on $75,000 unsecured bail.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
