Opinion ID: 799257
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Conspiracy to Distribute or Possess with Intent to Distribute Testosterone Cypionate

Text: Finally, Mr. Bader challenges the sufficiency of the evidence that the government presented to prove Count Nineteen of the Superseding Indictmentconspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute testosterone cypionate (an anabolic steroid), in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(D), and 21 U.S.C. § 846. Mr. Bader argues that, of the nearly four thousand doctors that College Pharmacy serviced, only two admitted that they had secretly prescribed testosterone through College Pharmacy for unlawful uses. Aplt. Opening Br. at 56. He also avers that he was unaware of these unlawful prescriptions. As the jury was instructed at trial, the government bore the burden of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that: (1) Mr. Bader entered into an agreement or understanding with one or more others to unlawfully distribute or to possess . . . with the intention of unlawfully distributing a controlled substance; namely, testosterone cypionate, an anabolic steroid; (2) Mr. Bader knew that the purpose of the agreement was to unlawfully distribute or to possess with intent to distribute that testosterone cypionate; and (3) [t]here was an interdependence among Mr. Bader and the others involved in this agreement or understanding. Aplt. Trial Tr.App., Vol. VIII, at 2178 (Jury Instruction No. 34). Mr. Bader contests the government's proof of the first two of these three elements.