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JACKSONVILLE - A former state corrections officer pleaded guilty to taking part in a prison-based steroids distribution ring and was sentenced to two years' probation and 100 hours of community service.
Oscar Shipley 41, became the fourth person to plead guilty to avoid prison time for participating in the ring. He could have faced up to five years in prison when sentenced Wednesday.
Shipley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids, which are used illegally to increase muscle mass. They can lead to heart attacks, strokes, cancer, sterility and mood swings.
Shipley agreed to cooperate with the government in ongoing investigations of the state prison system.
The steroid charges are part of a state and federal investigation that includes embezzlement from a state-run recycling facility and misuse of state property and prison labor.
Shipley was indicted in February, along with former corrections officers Michael Chambliss, Marcus Hodges and Clayton Manning. Hodges' sentencing is scheduled for January. The other two are on probation.
Benjamin Zoltowski and Bryan Griffis were indicted in 2004 on the same charges and pleaded guilty. Zoltowski received probation and Griffis will be sentenced this month.
Court records show Manning was in Egypt and sent steroids back to northeast Florida, including six packages that U.S. customs officials intercepted between March and October 2003.
Griffis, Shipley and Zoltowski distributed the drugs to corrections officers and other customers.
Shipley was accused of wiring more than $5,900 to Manning to pay for the steroids.
Like several of the former guards in the steroids case, Shipley played on a prison softball team coached by Allen Clark, a former regional director of North Florida prisons.
Clark, who is at the center of the state and federal probe, resigned his $94,000-a-year job in August.