A former Auburn University professor was indicted in a connection to a steroid distribution ring in Texas in May, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Yonnie Wu, who was also the former director of the Mass Spectrometry Center, tested drugs sent to him in the mail with University equipment and sent them to be sold online, according to prosecutors.
Wu signed a plea agreement on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and has agreed to plead guilty. He could face up to a year in jail and a fine up to $100,000, according to federal court documents.
Federal prosecutors said Wu knew that what he was doing was illegal and stopped testing for six months after a graduate student pointed out what he was doing was against the law, according to federal court documents. Wu started testing again after that student graduated.
Wu made no money from the test, according to court documents, and the testing fee of $70 was paid by the other defendants in the case, Scott Davis and Michael Lee Heryford, to the University.
Wu was arrested on May 13. He was employed by the University at the time of his arrest but is no longer listed as a faculty member.
Auburn University issued the following statement: “Auburn University cooperated fully with law enforcement once this situation came to its attention. Dr. Wu’s employment was terminated July 17, 2015. He worked at the university from 2009 to 2015.”
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
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