Anthony Bosch was charged with conspiracy to distribute steroids back in August and he eventually pleaded guilty in October. He was supposed to be sentenced in December, but the former owner of Biogenesis of America was in rehab receiving treatment for substance abuse.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Darrin Gayles sentenced Bosch to four years in federal prison follow by three years of supervised release. Although he faced up to 10 years behind bars, Bosch cooperated with the investigations conducted by Major League Baseball as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration. The MLB even sent a letter to the DEA that suggested Bosch face a reduced sentence for his help. He sentenced could be reduced even further if he opts to testify against two other co-conspirators in the Biogenesis case, who are scheduled to face trial in April.
However, Judge Gayles still gave Bosch the maximum sentence allowed in the federal guidelines for his record of steroid distribution, despite pleas from the 51-year-old's family members, according to the New York Daily News. Bosch admitted to supplying performance-enhancing drugs through his former clinic, Biogenesis of America, to baseball players ranging from high school to the professional level. Some of his clients included MLB stars such as Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, Nelson Cruz, Everth Cabrera, Jhonny Peralta and others.
Rodriguez was banned for the entire 2014 season for his involvement with the scandal while Braun was suspended for the final 65 games of the 2013 season. The 12 others found to be involved in the operation received 50-game bans in 2013.
The DEA also arrested nine others back in August who worked with Bosch, with some being let go and others still awaiting trial or sentencing. Most recently, and perhaps the biggest catch for the DEA, the man who served as the black market chemist for Bosch pleaded guilty in December. Paulo Berejuk, 51, who originally pleaded not guilty in October, was said to be the key source for Bosch's supply of testosterone. He's currently awaiting sentencing and faces a reduced sentence of two-to-three years.
As the DEA still works to track down and sentence others involved in Bosch's operation, the main supplier who contributed to the biggest steroid scandal in baseball history will serve his punishment after an investigation that lasted nearly three years.
