Man At Center Of MLB Steroid Scandal Sentenced To 4 Years
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Anthony Bosch, the man accused of selling steroids to Alex Rodriguez and other Major League Baseball players for years, was sentenced Tuesday to 48 months in federal prison.
Bosch was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release.
Gasps were heard in court after Judge Darrin Gayles said that Bosch would have to surrender within 30-minutes of the hearing.
On his way to surrender, Bosch told reporters, "I'm very sorry for all the hardship that this has caused everybody involved, my family, my friends."
Bosch was accused along with seven co-conspirators in operating the Biogenisis Clinic in Coral Gables. Hundreds of athletes, both professional and amateur, received performance enhancing injections at the clinic—including Miami native A-Rod.
After Tuesday's sentencing, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer put out the following statement, "The sentence imposed today on Anthony Bosch, the founder of Biogenesis of America, serves as a reminder that illegally administering testosterone and other dangerous substances to our community's high school athletes and others is a crime. The message is clear: cheating doesn't pay and individuals like Bosch, who distribute performance enhancing drugs to athletes and, more importantly, to our children, will be held accountable for their actions."
The sentencing began Tuesday with Bosch's attorney asking the judge for 35 months, about three years, in prison.
The courtroom Tuesday had numerous Bosch supporters. Bosch's attorney told the judge his client has "hit rock bottom" and asked the judge to, "look at the man and what he's done."
Bosch must agree to testify in outstanding cases, including a federal case against Yuri Sucart, A-Rod's cousin.
CLICK HERE to watch Gary Nelson's report
Bosch's daughter and son testified in court Tuesday, asking for mercy, "my father doesn't have a bad bone in his body."
Bosch's mother also took the stand, testifying now, saying "Tony is an outgoing, loving and giving person," even recalling that he once saved his brother's life when they were young.
Bosch has tested clean since taken into rehab in October, that's when the judge sent him to rehab after testing positive for cocaine.
Prosecutor Pat Sullivan said that Bosch wasn't curing diseases, just helping players to be bigger, stronger and faster--purely a commercial venture. Sullivan told the judge he considered 41 months to be appropriate.
Bosch addressed the judge saying, "my addiction took the best of me. I can't put into words how sorry I am."
The judge said he took into account all the letters in support of Bosch but judge said Bosch "was most culpable" in the scheme. He said the case is a breach of trust and "that's what troubles the court the most."
Judge said a stiff sentence is appropriate and he will deny motion to downward depart.
In giving Bosch, who posed as a doctor, even more time than prosecutors had asked for, Judge Gayles called him the "mastermind" who "recruited others to assist him."
"One can only imagine the horror of a parent who took their child to someone they believed to be a licensed physician," the judge said.
Bosch was senteced to 48 months and was asked to surrender to U.S. Marshals at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Bosch's attorneys feel confident he will get his sentence reduced at a later time, following further cooperation.
CBS4 obtained a copy of a letter an attorney for the MLB sent to U.S. District Attorney Wifredo Ferrer, saying in part:
"MLB vigorously maintains that Anthony Bosch has not only provided invaluable assistance to it in enabling the successful suspensions of fourteen players, but also has assisted in sending an important message to the millions of young athletes who emulate their heroes and therefore feel pressure to use pes in pursuit of their athletic dreams."
Bosch plead guilty in October for his role at a former Coral Gables clinic which reportedly sold banned steroids to MLB players, including Alex Rodriguez.
That was after Bosch's bail was revoked for testing positive for cocaine twice.
Bosch and six other people who allegedly made up his supply and distribution network were indicted in the MLB doping scandal investigation.
Among the others charged were Alex Rodriguez's cousin Yuri Sucart, Carlos Javier Acevedo of Miami; Jorge Augustine Velazquez of Miami; Christopher Benjamin Engroba of Miami; Lazaro Daniel Collazo of Hialeah and Juan Carlos Nuñez of Fort Lauderdale.