Oct
24

‘Sovereign Citizens’ Group Member Arrested in Possession of Anabolic Steroids

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Athletes aren’t the only ones that use anabolic steroids. In fact, the overwhelming majority of steroid users in the United States are otherwise law-abiding, gainfully-employed citizens who use steroids to improve their physical appearance. But anti-steroid crusaders love it when someone outside this demographic makes it easier for them to demonize steroids. Imagine their happiness when someone linked to a terrorist organization was busted with steroids.

This happened in Mahwah, New York when Oscar Ayala was pulled over by police officers after a traffic violation. Inside his car, officers discovered significant quantities of the anabolic steroid Turanabol and marijuana. Ayala was charged with intent to distribute anabolic steroids (Turanabol), marijuana possession and various motor vehicle violations.

The Mahwah Police Department subsequently learned that Ayala was a member of the loosely-organized ‘Sovereign Citizens’ movement. Police made the connection based Ayala’s tattoos and statements regarding the group. Sovereign Citizens, which is reportedly rooted in racism and anti-Semitism, has been classified as a domestic terror threat by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

The anti-American separatist group has estimated membership of approximately 100,000 members in the United States according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Terry Nichols, one of the conspirators behind the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, was a member of Sovereign Citizens.

“They, not judges, juries or law enforcement officials get to decide which laws to obey and which to ignore and don’t think they should have to pay taxes”, according to Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli.

The group apparently disregards laws prohibiting the possession of anabolic steroids without a medical prescription.

Ayala was incarcerated in the Bergen County Jail. He faces possible extradition to Arizona on outstanding felony charges for narcotics, theft and weapons charges.

Source:
Ivers, D. (October 25, 2012). Mahwah police arrest felon with ties to anti-American ‘Sovereign Citizens’ group. Retrieved from http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2012/10/mahwah_police_arrest_felon_with_ties_to_anti-american_sovereign_citizens_group.html