Markham: Human Growth Hormone Was for Diabetes

A 2008 conviction of possession of anabolic steroid was the result of an online pharmacy order gone wrong, Mokena 159 school board candidate Patrick Markham said.

According to court documents acquired by Mokena Patch, Markham was charged in 2008 with unlawful possession of human growth hormone with intent to deliver.

The felony charge was later reduced to possession of anabolic steroid, a misdemeanor of which Markham was convicted, according to court documents.

Markham told Patch he had ordered the human growth hormone, for which he had a prescription, to treat his diabetes. He said he purchased from an online overseas pharmacy because it was "too costly" to buy in the United States. Markham said it was the first time he had ordered human growth hormone and that he had not used it before placing the order.

The package carrying the human growth hormone, which was shipped from China and marked as a "gift" with a declared value of $20, caught the attention of the Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad (M.A.N.S.), according to documents. The squad received a warrant to search Markham's business in January of 2008. M.A.N.S. seized 50 vials of human growth hormone, seven bottles of bacteriostatic water and a syringe.

Markham pleaded guilty to possession of anabolic steroid and was fined $1,000 and sentenced to 12 months conditional discharge.