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Bonds hit with five-count indictment by Feds
By Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin November 15, 2007 |
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SAN FRANCISCO—The Federal Grand Jury through the US District Court finally issued their indictment against former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds on Thursday, in the US District Court, Northern District of California. In this indictment, Bonds has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice. There were five counts listed in the indictment, four count of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice, stemming from Bonds’ testimony while questioned in December 2003, in front of the Federal Grand Jury. The indictment noted 19 answers that was deemed to be false by the Grand Jury. The original investigation that was started by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, on the distribution of anabolic steroids and other illegal performance enhancing drugs. Also investigated was related money laundering of the profits from those sales of drugs. Bonds had testified before the Grand Jury in December 2003, and he was given immunity for his testimony, with the only stipulation is that his testimony could be used against him only in a case for perjury, false declaration, or failing to comply with the order to testify. In the indictment that was release today, certain portions of his testimony was noted in the document showing where Bonds had given false testimony. Count One: Count One covered Bonds relationship with Greg Anderson and if Anderson had given Bonds steroids. Bonds’ testimony denied he was given any steroids by Anderson, and denied he obtained steroids from Anderson during the period of November 2000, when a steroids test with a notation of Barry B. on it. He was also asked if he was taking any other steroids, and Bonds flatly said “No”. There were a total of five answers which the Grand Jury found false. The indictment at the end of Count One had labeled it "All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1623(a). Count Two: Count Two covered Bonds’ testimony on if Anderson had ever used a syringe or a needle into him which Bonds testified no. Bonds was then questioned again if Anderson ever gave him anything that would have to be taken with a needle or syringe, and Bonds replied that Anderson would never jeopardize their friendship. There were two answers in Count Two the Grand Jury found false. Count Three: Count Three covered if Anderson ever gave Bonds human growth hormones. Bonds denied four times about taking Human Growth hormones. Count Four: Count Four covered his testimony on the use of the “cream”. In the indictment filling, Bonds testimony on the cream was released for the first time from the court said that he had Anderson rub the cream on him and said that Anderson told him it was for his sore arm and that it was used as a flax seed oil and it was "whatever dude" according to Bonds testimony. Bonds was asked about when was the first time he used the cream, which he says was 2003, which was found false by the Grand Jury twice, and also on any discussions on taking anything but vitamins, Bonds testified no discussions and no oils. More of the testimony then covered whether Bonds started using the cream in 2001, but he testified that it was after the 2002 season, which again the Grand Jury found false, and there were a total eight statements deemed false by the Grand Jury. Count Five: Count Five covered Counts One-Four that Bonds had given “intentionally evasive, false and misleading” testimony in Counts One – Four. Also evasive and misleading testimony which was obstruction of justice, under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1503. Sportstalk contacted Dr Arthur Ting When called Thursday afternoon by Sportstalk to ask about any information of blood testing or urine testing that could have been positive for traces of steroids Bonds surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting receptionist quickly said that the doctor wasn't in and wasn't talking. Pressed about the questions the receptionist said "you'll have to call another time." Attorneys on both sides Schools believes from the indictment that he has enough on the former Giant slugger to convict him on perjury charges for lying on the Grand Jury witness stand and that trainer Greg Anderson who had documents and calendars confiscated from his former Burlingame home had enough written there during Grand Jury testimony that there was enough evidence to indict Bonds. Bonds attorney John Burris said following the serving of the indictments "what new evidence does the prosecution have now that they didn't have before and why did they wait all this time to indict Barry Bonds?" Bonds if convicted for perjury for steroid use could face three to six years in prison. Michael Rains, Bonds lead defense attorney has said that he and the Bonds team are ready to take on the Feds and that the testimonies presented in the indictments are circumstantial at best and that the government doesn't have enough to convict Bonds on perjury based on any of the presented evidence in the indictment. Greg Anderson released this afternoon According to reports, Greg Anderson was released this afternoon from the Dublin Correctional Facility, after the indictments were made public this afternoon, as they were filed on November 15th. Speculation was running rampant that Anderson was released after turning on Bonds, but this is only speculation at this point. Rains had said a conviction on Bonds just on the current testimony will not be enough to convict Bonds of perjury. Anderson's testimony would change the whole complexity of the perjury charges if Anderson was to testify against his childhood friend, but so far most sources, Anderson Joe Cronin and Ken Gimblin co-host Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. Gary Araki also contributed to this report. |
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