Man With Alleged Cowboys Connection Pleads Guilty David Jacobs Makes Plea Deal On Drug Charge
Deal Could Mean Suspect Avoids Prison Time - Team Denies Any Involvement With Plano Personal Trainer
(CBS 11 NEWS EXCLUSIVE) DALLAS A North Texas personal trainer, who claims to have offered guidance to Dallas Cowboy football players, has pled guilty to a federal steroids charge.
David Jacobs pled guilty to one count of 'possessing anabolic steroids with the intent to distribute'. The maximum penalty for the charge is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In the court proceedings at the federal courthouse in Sherman, it was announced that under his agreement to plead guilty Jacobs will tell prosecutors what he knows about the distribution of illegal steroids in exchange for three years probation.
"I am comfortable in saying, 'Yes. I'm pleading guilty to the manufacturing and distribution of anabolic steroids,' and I've agreed to take that plea agreement," Jacobs said.
Judge John Bush will have the final say on whether to accept the plea agreement at sentencing. No date has been set.
Jacobs, a personal trainer from Plano, declined comments on the charge Tuesday and also declined to name any Dallas Cowboys or other professional football players that he has worked with.
When asked about the massive amount of media attention he and the case is receiving Jacobs said the whole thing was, "overwhelming."
The case is part of what the Department of Justice calls "Operation Raw Deal." It's the largest ever federal crackdown on steroids.
According to court records, Jacobs is accused of distributing steroids from his east Plano house from October 2005 through last spring. That's when Plano police narcotics officers and an agent with the Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation sized 10,000 units of anabolic steroids.
Officers also found pills and powder and seized semi-automatic rifles from the house. Experts said all of the raw materials used to manufacture steroids came from China.
Jacobs also owns a vitamin supplement shop in North Dallas. The store has not been under investigation.
On the store's Website, Jacobs states that he "offers guidance to many top athletes across the U.S." He also states that some of those athletes play for the Dallas Cowboys and the Atlanta Falcons.
"I wouldn't be able to discuss who I've been working with in the NFL," Jacobs said.
He also wouldn't state what he did for the players. "Considering the legalities behind it, I wouldn't be comfortable," said Jacobs. "Obviously that's one of the reasons why I'm here and pleading guilty."
A spokesperson for the Dallas Cowboys said Jacobs has never worked for the team; that he's never heard of Jacobs and has no knowledge of the charges Jacobs faces. The spokesperson also said the team has its own strength and conditioning coach so players can follow an organized conditioning program.
A spokesman for the Atlanta Falcons said Jacobs never worked for the team and that he never heard of him.
Two others accused in the conspiracy with Jacobs pleaded guilty last week. Matt Williams and Amber Jarrell declined to comment on their cases.
Court records indicate no professional sports players have been charged in the case and the investigation is on-going.
United States Prosecutor Sam Cantrell declined comment.
