|
1 3 - 0 7 - 2 0 0 5
Drug raid nets W.W. man
Jo C. Goode
JRC News Service
07/12/2005
Kent County Daily Times
CUMBERLAND -- The owner of Powerhouse Fitness Gym Center is the target of
a federal investigation for allegedly making and distributing anabolic
steroids from his Mendon Road business, according to federal court
records.
A federal judge has ordered that the gym remains open and operating for
now.
Kenneth Peckham, 36, of 58 Youngs Ave., West Warwick, is already facing a
state felony charge after he was arrested June 29 during a raid on his
home and at the gym by U.S. deputy marshals and Rhode Island State Police
detectives, armed with a federal search warrant.
The Rhode Island Secretary of State's corporations database lists Peckham
as the president of Ocean State Fitness, Incorporated, which does business
as Powerhouse gym, and located at the former Benny's shopping plaza.
According to state police Lt. LeRoy Rose, Peckham was taken into custody
at his West Warwick home after law enforcement officials found "a large
quantity of various types of steroids," as well as the hormone
testosterone.
Last week's raid is part of an on-going investigation by the federal Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), according to Assistant U.S. Attorney
Michael P. Iannotti.
The FDA investigation against Peckham began about a year ago, Iannotti
said.
Details regarding the investigation are still not public. An affidavit for
a search warrant by FDA Special Agent Jason Simonian remained sealed
yesterday in the federal Magistrate's office in Providence.
If Peckham is indicted by a federal grand jury and convicted on federal
charges, the federal government could seize the business.
On Monday, United States District Judge Mary M. Lisi signed a 90-day
pre-indictment temporary restraining order that will keep Powerhouse gym
open and in operation. The order extended a 10-day restraining order
Peckham was served last week during the search.
According an application from the U. S. Attorney for the pre-indictment
restraining order, which was unsealed by Lisi on Friday, Peckham is
accused of manufacturing anabolic steroids and distributing the schedule
III drug from Powerhouse gym.
Federal law provides that property used to commit a crime is subject to
forfeiture.
In the court memorandum by Iannotti, federal officials did not give
Peckham previous notice about the temporary restraining order out of
concern that he would sell off the business or its assets before an
indictment.
The court document also states that Peckham "has a history of putting
property he owns in the names of others and concealing his ownership
interest."
Iannotti said that if Peckham is indicted before the end of the 90
restraining order, the federal government automatically takes control of
the business until the case is decided.
On Monday, the gym was opened and appeared to be operating business as
usual and still accepting new members.
After his arrest last week, Peckham was released on his own recognizance
and his case was forwarded to the state Attorney General's office.
[Link]
0 3 - 0 9 - 2 0 0 5
W. W. man killed in Cumberland crash
JO C. GOODE
09/03/2005
Kent County Daily Times
Kenneth Peckham, 36, of 58 Youngs Ave., West Warwick, was declared dead at
the scene by the state Medical Examiner, who transported the victim's
body.
Peckham's business is located on Mendon Road, about one mile from where
the fatal four-vehicle accident occurred.
Cumberland Police Sgt. Paul Brown confirmed yesterday the driver operating
a Bonolo Provisions truck ran over Peckham's motorcycle and pushed the
motorcyclist's body into the rear of the car in front of him.
As vehicles from police, rescue and fire crews from Cumberland and
Woonsocket ringed the gruesome scene, the truck's grill could be seen
wedged in the trunk of a blue Toyota.
The accident is still under investigation and, so far, no charges have
been filed against truck driver Mark Gainey, 43, of 1 Lubec St.,
Providence. He was transported to Landmark Hospital in Woonsocket, and
later released. An unidentified passenger was unhurt.
The drivers stopped in front of Peckham's motorcycle, including Cidalia
Ventura, 50, of 194 Pullin Ave., Pawtucket, and Emma St. Germain, 42, of
865 Douglas Pike, Harrisville, were also taken to the hospital. It was
unclear last night what the condition of the two drivers was or where they
were taken.
The accident occurred around 2:15 p.m. and police had to close down the
southbound lane on Mendon Road, routing traffic onto Route 99. The police
accident reconstruction team was on the scene until about 4:30 p.m.
Peckham had been the target of a yearlong federal probe for allegedly
manufacturing and selling anabolic steroids from his home and business.
State police arrested him in June after a raid by agents from the Food and
Drug Administration.
A federal indictment was pending before his death.
[Link]
1 0 - 0 9 - 2 0 0 5
Publisher assaulted
JO C. GOODE
09/10/2005
The Call
CUMBERLAND --The Valley Breeze Publisher Tom Ward was assaulted in his
office Thursday by the brother of a traffic accident victim.
However, Ward declined to press charges against 34-year-old Scott Peckham
of Marina Del Ray, Calif.
His brother, Kenneth Peckham, 36, who owned the Powerhouse Fitness Gym
Center, was killed instantly Sept. 2 after a truck struck him as he waited
at a red light on his motorcycle on Mendon Road at the Route 99
intersection.
"At this time, it’s private between me and the gentleman who assaulted me.
We have an understanding," Ward said Friday.
Peckham was reportedly upset by a brief story printed Thursday in The
Valley Breeze that identified Kenneth Peckham as the target of a federal
investigation involving steroids -- a fact reprinted from a story
published in The Call on Sept. 3.
According to a police report, Peckham arrived at the newspaper’s Mendon
Road office with his wife and brother’s fiancé to talk about the story. At
some point, he grabbed Ward by his shirt and neck and pushed the publisher
onto a table. He then threatened to kill Ward if he published any more
information regarding his brother and "that Ward would also be writing his
own obituary," according to the report.
Peckham was later questioned by police at Powerhouse Gym and told the case
would be turned over to detectives.
In an interview with The Call, Peckham did not deny the assault but
explained that the incident "arose out of emotion."
Peckham said he had just come from the Cumberland police headquarters to
collect his brother’s belongings and saw his damaged motorcycle and the
truck that killed him.
"I saw my brother’s blood. It probably wasn’t a good time," Peckham said.
Peckham said published reports about the federal investigation and details
about the accident disturbed relatives and friends. He claimed that
allegations his brother manufactured steroids were the result of a
disgruntled employee.
In fact, The Call, and its sister paper, The Kent County Times, have
received several e-mails protesting the coverage of the fatal accident.
"I was very hurt and I don’t have a pen and a newspaper," Peckham said.
Ward said he decided against filing a complaint at this time against
Peckham after a meeting yesterday afternoon at the Cumberland Police
Department.
"He was very contrite and apologized and I’m comfortable with that," Ward
said.
The fatal accident is still under investigation and police have not yet
charged truck driver Mark Gainey, 43, of 1 Lubec St., Providence. Capt.
Ralph Liguori said that as soon as the accident reconstruction
investigation is complete, the police would decide what charges to bring
against Gainey.
Meanwhile, Peckham, who helped his brother open the gym, said the business
will remain in operation by his family. He said he’ll stay on in
Cumberland another month to help train the present manager.
[Link]
|
[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
