Fugitive Felon Fitton Is Taken Into Custody

Fugitive felon and noted weightlifting figure Richard Anthony Fitton has been arrested in Albuquerque, N.M., U.S. Attorney Phil Halpern said Sunday.

A Customs Agent and marshals for the United States ended a five-month search for the British power lifter convicted of shipping massive shipments of illegal steroids into the country.

Halpern said in San Diego that Fitton, 33, was tracked Saturday night to a motel room in the hometown of his girlfriend, Victoria Lea Steenrod, the women’s 1985 World Champion power lifter.

The 242-pound Fitton was a power lifting champion in 1977.

He had pleaded guilty in a San Diego federal courtroom last Valentine’s Day to smuggling steroids, but failed to show up for his April 10 sentencing, forfeiting a $7,500 bail bond.

Fitton, a British subject, was convicted in 1982 in Atlanta of illegally importing steroids, but was handed a one-year suspended sentence. In April, the U.S. attorney’s office had planned to recommend a five-year prison term and another five years probation, Halpern said.

“I am going to recommend an additional five years for bail jump,” Halpern said Sunday. “Then, he will belong to the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service).

“The epidemic spread in use of steroids through the entire spectrum of American athletes has got to be stopped. Young men are dying of liver cancer and heart attacks,” said Halpern.