A doctor from Staten Island, his clinic and a pharmacy were indicted on charges of illegally providing steroids to more than 200 bodybuilders and weightlifters.

 

Dr. Richard Lucente, 37, owned the New York Anti-Aging and Wellness Center in the Fountain of Youth Building at 821 Clove Road on Staten Island. According to Brooklyn district attorney’s office, Lucente provided his patients – mostly bodybuilders and weightlifters – with prescriptions for steroids and human growth hormones even though there was no medical reason to prescribe them.

 

He was indicted on 76 counts, including one charge of reckless endangerment in the death of a bodybuilder who died from what investigators believe was the effect of steroids.

 

According to prosecutors, Lucente steered his clients to a Brooklyn pharmacy, Lowen’s to get their prescriptions filled. Papers show that he received nearly $30,000 in kickbacks from the pharmacy from 2005 to 2007. The owner of the pharmacy, John Rossi committed suicide last year during the investigation by Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes.

 

Lucente pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Tuesday and was released on $20,000 bail. His lawyer, John Meringolo called the charges “absurd.”

 

“He helped people. He saved people's lives. We believe he will be vindicated at trial,” Meringolo said.

 

Lucente faces a maximum of 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison. The charges follow an investigation in which $8 million worth of human growth hormone and steroids were seized (from the pharmacy) in raids by state narcotics investigators