Coach Sentenced for Distributing Drugs to Olympic-Caliber Track & Field Athletes
SAN FRANCISCO – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – A California man was sentenced today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute illegal steroids and other performance enhancing drugs to athletes. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston today. Remi Korchemny, 73, of Castro Valley, was sentenced to one year of probation.
This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Food and Drug Administration–Office of Criminal Investigations, and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force.
U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan said, “This sentencing brings to a close this chapter of an investigation and prosecution that has focused worldwide attention on illicit use of drugs and performance-enhancing substances in sports. This problem is ongoing as is further demonstrated by recent events at the current Winter Olympic games. The continued focus on this problem by the Department of Justice and law enforcement serves as an important step towards the national and international goal of eradicating the use of illegal drugs in sports.”
On February 12, 2004, Victor Conte, James J. Valente, Greg F. Anderson, and Remi Korchemny, were charged with conspiracy, money laundering and distribution of anabolic steroids. On July 29, 2005, Korchemny pleaded guilty to a single count of 21 U.S.C. § 331(k), misbranding of a drug while held for sale.
In pleading guilty last July, Remi Korchemny admitted that between September 1, 2000, and September 3, 2003, while working as a track coach in the Bay Area, he distributed illegal performance-enhancing drugs to some of the Olympic-caliber track and field athletes whom he coached at that time. The illegal drugs he admitted to knowingly distributing to the athletes he coached included a testosterone cream, known as “The Cream,” a synthetic steroid-like derivative, tetrahydragestrinone, or “THG,” human growth hormone, erythropoietin and modafinil. Mr. Korchemny admitted to obtaining those drugs from Victor Conte.
Jeff Nedrow and Jeffrey R. Finigan are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Susan Kreider. Matt Parrella, Chief of the San Jose Branch, also provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution. The prosecution is the result of an investigation led by IRS–Criminal Investigation Special Agent Jeff Novitzky. Amy Scott with the Food and Drug Administration–Office of Criminal Investigations, and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force also assisted in the investigation.
Further Information:
A copy of this press release and related court filings may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.
Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.plhttps://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/.
Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office should be directed to Luke Macaulay at (415) 436-6757 or by email at Luke.Macaulay@usdoj.gov.
