A lesson unlearned

Suspect in 2013 steroid ring arrested again for drug activity

An El Dorado man charged in one of the largest steroid busts in the nation in 2013 was arrested again Friday night at his home, where El Dorado Police Department officers secured more steroids, methamphetamine and guns.

Andrew Maza, 31 at the time of his arrest in December 2013, was arrested this time on a no bond warrant for delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, maintaining a drug premises, and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, methamphetamine.

According to Captain Charlie Phillips of the EPD, the department had been watching Maza for nearly seven months before the move to take him into custody.

Maza has a court date concerning the previous charges later this month, Phillips said.

When police entered Maza’s residence Friday and made the arrest, they went in on a warrant for methamphetamine. They found meth, approximately a quarter-ounce, as well as approximately a dozen bottles of steroids and 20-25 labels. Police also confiscated two guns from the residence.

“After we went in and secured everybody, a

female inside admitted to us that she’d also flushed about an ounce of meth down the toilet,” Phillips said.

Though some evidence was lost, white residue was abundant in the kitchen, Phillips said, explaining, “We found methamphetamine on the stove top and the island in the kitchen. They were weighing it and cutting on the stove.” He said the glass-top stove was littered with drug paraphernalia.

The bust came after two controlled buys by EPD at the residence, one by Maza hand-to-hand.

The charges he faces with this new arrest include delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance-methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver-methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver-steroids, simultaneous possession of drugs and guns, maintaining a drug premises, possession of drug paraphernalia for methamphetamine production, distribution or storage, possession of drug paraphernalia-felony amount of methamphetamine, and an enhancement charge of distribution near a certain facility, a church.

In 2013, multiple police agencies, including national agencies, teamed up with Columbia County and Union County police agencies to confiscate 8,000 vials, bottles, and pill dosage units of anabolic steroids, paraphernalia, 35 firearms, $45,0000 cash and four vehicles. Maza’s residence and storage units were both searched in the raid.

Maza was set a $50,000 bond for the charges connected to the initial raid. Possible sentences for the charges in December 2013 range from 3 years to life in prison.

Phillips said Maza will have a first appearance on the new charges Monday.