November 9, 2012 12:06 am
/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two men accused of conspiring to distribute performance-enhancing drugs with prominent Downtown doctor Richard A. Rydze appeared in court Thursday.

James Hatzimbes, 42, who ran the Pleasant Hills-based HSE Salon and Wellness Center, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly and pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.

William Zipf, 57, formerly of Pittsburgh but now housed in a federal prison in Morgantown, made his initial appearance before Judge Kelly. He faces charges of conspiracy and health care fraud. Judge Kelly told him he could face as much as 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count, and 10 years for the multiple fraud counts. He will be arraigned on Tuesday.

Dr. Rydze, who served as one of the Steelers' physicians for two decades until a separation in 2007, is the central figure in the 185-count indictment handed down last month and naming the three men.

Two other men pleaded guilty last week in related cases. William M. Sadowski, 46, of McKees Rocks, and John F. Gavin, 51, of Valencia, formerly of Robinson-based ANEWrx, are set to be sentenced Feb. 26 for conspiring to improperly sell steroids and other drugs.