Raided Gym, Home of Co-Owner Seized

The Uptown Gym in Whittier, raided last month in a steroids and cocaine investigation, was seized Wednesday by federal and local law enforcement authorities. They also seized the home of Richard Gill, the gym’s co-owner.

Gill, 49, was arrested June 15 on charges of possessing anabolic steroids and cocaine with intent to sell the drugs. He will be arraigned Tuesday.

Don Desmaretz, a Whittier police sergeant, said the seizures were made under the federal assets forfeiture law, which says that any place used to facilitate narcotics trafficking is subject to forfeiture by the federal government.

Desmaretz said Gill will be allowed to remain in his home pending disposition of the case. Federal marshals appointed an acting manager to run the gym. If Gill is convicted, his house and the gym will be sold through either an auction or a realtor, Desmaretz said.