Thread: Major steroid supplier in Tuscaloosa arrested

Major steroid supplier in Tuscaloosa arrested, police say

Posted: Mar 05, 2014 6:01 AM CDT
Updated: Mar 12, 2014 6:01 AM CST


TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, AL - Police say a major steroid manufacturer has been taken off the streets.

The West Alabama Narcotics Task Force wrapped up a three year investigation by arresting Ronald Eugene Wedgeworth Jr. after agents found $200,000 worth of drugs and lab equipment to manufacture drugs.

On a quiet street in the rural Coker area of Tuscaloosa County, investigators said Wedgeworth was running a major steroid manufacturing operation.

Mary Smith who can see wedge worth’s house from her front yard said his arrest is a shock. “We just don't have that kind of activity in our neighborhood and didn't expect to hear anything like this for sure,” Smith added.

Agents recovered large amounts of liquid and powder steroids, powder Viagra, marijuana, two handguns, and drug paraphernalia all at Wedgeworth's house.

Five different neighbors told Alabama’s 13 that they don't know Wedgeworth very well and for the most part he keeps to himself.

Dr. Diana Dolliver teaches a class on drugs, crime, and politics in the Criminal Justice Department at the University of Alabama.

She said typically drug manufacturers operate in rural, lightly populated areas like Coker, because it is easier to go undetected.

The professor added that the most interesting thing to her about this case is that Wedgeworth is believed to have been converting the steroids to liquid form to cater to his clients. “That the users are more injecting users as opposed to willing to just take a tablet or go as far as to snort the powder or something like that. They would much rather inject,” she said.

Dolliver mentioned that the process to convert the powder to liquid isn't extremely complicated, but requires more steps and takes longer to make.

The expert believes based off what police were able to recover, Wedgeworth could have anywhere between 20-50 clients. But she isn't ruling out that he could have had up to 100 people he sold to.