Cape business owner pleads guilty to importing steroids

A Cape Girardeau business owner has pleaded guilty to federal charges of importing illegal steroids.

Matthew S. Short, 29, of Marion, Illinois, pleaded guilty to bringing anabolic steroids into the U.S. in United States District Court in the Southern District of Illinois. Short owns Stack'D supplements, 3047 William St.

Short could face up to 10 years in prison, a $500,000 fine and three years supervised release at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 16. After he pleaded guilty Jan. 28, he was granted a release until the sentencing hearing.

Short said the investigation in the case began nearly two years ago, which was before he had the idea for Stack'D.

"It has 100 percent nothing to do with this business," Short said. "We worked for two years to get this going. ... People change."

Short signed a stipulation-of-facts document in the case Jan. 12 before pleading guilty Jan. 28.

He ordered 13 bags of what was determined to be 800 grams of six types of anabolic steroids from China to be delivered to his home in Marion, according to court records and a news release from the federal prosecutor's office. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the package at the San Francisco mail center.

Lt. Barry Hovis of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said investigators may look into whether Short has tried to bring anabolic steroids to Missouri.

"Just because he was convicted over there doesn't mean he's doing it over here," Hovis said.

The city of Cape Girardeau does not have grounds to revoke Short's business license for the federal charges because he did not break a city ordinance, according to Trisha Holloway, customer-service manager for the city.

Several personal trainers in town said they have used supplements from Stack'D and would continue to do so despite the federal case. Muddy Waters Crossfit owner Charles William said he has recommended Stack'D to clients.

"People that buy supplements know where they're coming from," Williams said.

Trainer Terrance Sterling said Stack'D sells the same products he has sold. Sterling added he recommends supplements in general.

"The science is just helping athletes," Sterling said.

Southeast Missouri State University strength and conditioning coach Ryan Johnson said he recommends athletes not take supplements because there could be substances in over-the-counter supplements that are banned by the NCAA.

"All that stuff is not regulated at all," he said. "The risk greatly outweighs the reward. ... If they test positive, they lose a year of eligibility."

Cape Girardeau Central High School track coach Scott Schweinbold said he does not worry about his athletes taking steroids, even by accident.

"Kids know the difference between supplements they buy at GNC and steroids," Schwienbod said.

Central sprints coach and former head football coach Nathan Norman said he does not think athletes at Central use supplements.

"I personally don't take them because they're not regulated by the FDA," Norman said of supplements. "I recommend people do their research and find out exactly what's in them. ... I've found that nothing works except eating properly and working your butt off in the weight room, and there's nothing fast or easy in any of that."

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 3047 William St., Cape Girardeau, MO