Romanowski Indicted in Prescription Drug Case
G R E E L E Y, Colo., Aug. 9 -- Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowskihas been indicted on four felonies for allegedly using diet drugsprescribed for his wife and a friend.
The charges were announced today during an impromptu newsconference at the team’s training camp.
Romanowski declined comment, but his attorney, Harvey Steinberg,said they will fight the charges. “These charges concern amedication that is routinely prescribed and was prescribed for Billafter an appropriate examination,” he said.
“This is actually a benefit to us. There has been a cloud ofsuspicion over Bill, and this will give him a chance to put it torest.”
There was no immediate comment from Denver Broncos officials.
Wife, Others Indicted Last Year
Bill Romanowski was charged Tuesday with one count of unlawfulpossession of a controlled substance, obtaining a controlledsubstance by fraud and deceit and two counts of conspiracy, saidMike Knight of the 18th Judicial District office.
Last year, four other people were indicted in the case,including Romanowski’s wife, Julie. She faces eight counts offraudulently obtaining a controlled substance and conspiracy.
Authorities allege Julie Romanowski and others conspired toobtain the diet drug, Phentermine, for her husband.
Scientists Divided on Effects of Drug
According to the indictment, Romanowski worked with his wife,Loretta Johnson and possibly some other unnamed people to getPhentermine seven times between September 1998 and January 1999.
It also says Romanowski and the others involved agreed to coverup what they had done if the scheme was discovered.
Johnson pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to illegallyobtain a prescription drug. If she complies with court orders andstays out of trouble for a year, the conviction will not go on herrecord permanently.
The case against Julie Romanowski is pending.
Scientists are divided on the effects of the drug. Some say itwould be of little or no use to athletes wishing to enhance theirperformance. Others said it would aid by speeding up themetabolism.
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