1quick1

Brooklyn pharmacy owner at center of steroid scandal kills self - cops

Tuesday, January 29th 2008, 4:00 AM


John Rossi in October photo



A prime suspect in the snowballing steroid scandal involving NYPD officers blew his brains out Monday night in an apparent suicide, police said.

John Rossi, 56, died of gunshot wounds to the head and chest in his second-floor office at Lowen's Pharmacy in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where cops raided in October and found $8.2 million worth of performance-enhancing drugs.

Investigators said another slug was found in the room, but gave no details. Despite the number of shots, the medical examiner's office deemed Rossi's death a suicide.

"He wanted to make sure," explained a police source.

Rossi, co-owner of the pharmacy, faced indictment in part of the nationwide investigation into the illegal sale and use of steroids. He had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The Brooklyn district attorney is expected to call a grand jury in the coming months.

Pharmacy deliveryman Anthony Randen-Fonseca, 29, said he went to Rossi's office a few minutes before 7 p.m. because "his family had been calling and calling but couldn't get him." He said Rossi was facedown "in blood on the floor."

Sources said the fatal shot hit Rossi in the side of the head as he sat at the desk of his son-in-law Ed Letendre, on top of which was a bottle of Jack Daniel's, an open bottle of pills that weren't immediately identified and a note that said, "Please forgive me."

Rossi had stuffed cotton into his ears, investigators said.

They said his .380 semiautomatic Beretta was found near his body.

Investigators Monday night were questioning why Rossi was allowed to keep the licensed weapon while he was the subject of a criminal investigation and at the heart of an internal probe by the NYPD into steroid use among cops. At least 27 cops showed up on Lowen's client lists, sources said.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has said six officers were tagged for having failed drug tests for steroids.

Monday night police brass said five officers were eventually suspended for failing the tests.

Rossi, Letendre and John Amato also were all said to be co-owners of the New York Anti-Aging and Wellness Medical Services in West Brighton, S.I.

Amato spent time in federal prison after being charged in a stock scam seven years ago.

Another partner in the anti-aging center was Dr. Richard Lucente, an osteopath with medical offices in Staten Island and Bay Ridge. Lucente was one of the main doctors writing prescriptions for NYPD officers, bodybuilders and local high school athletes.

Maryann Wenz, 65, a retired Citibank vice president and a life-long friend of Rossi's, said he had been in the hospital all night with his daughter for the birth of his grandson.

"There aren't enough kind words for him," she said. "He had everything to live for. With this steroid thing, the pressure had to be on him."

Big Guns

Hmmm Shot in the chest and head. "well that didn't work let me try a head shot now!!" He was murdered and NYC cops are sweatin'.
so what NY cops on juice. Have you ever encountered a craked out bad saa before? Cops should juice.
Sad story.

1quick1

Amazing isn't it.

I have no issues with cops using AAS but I think if I juiced I'd have an issue with a 260lb cop with 5% bf arresting me for possession of AAS

Big Guns

yup!!