RETURN OF THE 'ROIDS

Last January, John Rossi, co-owner of Lowen's Pharmacy at 6902 3rd Ave. here in Bay Ridge, was found dead of an apparent suicide.

Yesterday Lowen's Pharmacy was charged with conspiracy in the steroids scandal.

Dr. Richard Lucente, 37, of Staten Island, was also indicted in the scandal.

Here's how it worked: Dr. Dick wrote prescriptions for steroids without having a medical reason and then had them go Lowen’s to have the illegal prescription filled.

In 2007, police raided Lowen's and found more than $8 million worth of human growth hormone and anabolic steroids.

Yipes.

MY MORNING CABOODLE

What did I say!? What did I say?

The suicide of a Brooklyn pharmacy owner at the center of a multimillion-dollar steroid scandal is focusing more scrutiny on a mobbed-up movie producer, law enforcement sources said Tuesday.

The plot, she is a thickening.


RUDY RUDY RUDY


After running a crafty campaign, Rudy is dropping out of the race. Now what's next for America's Mayor? I hear he's going to open a 7-11 and change the name to 9-11.


BRITNEY HAS MENTAL ISSUES, Y'ALL



In some "welcome to the neighborhood" news, Britney Spears' manager said the pop-wreck has mental issues. Really!? Mental issues!? What a surprise!


BUT SHE'S GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY



Dubya wants to jump start the economy? Give us more of the pop-wreck. The Southern Nutjob contributes $110 million - $120 million to the economy. And she's certainly doing what she can -

she was spotted Sunday night with Mr. Lufti at the Hustler Hollywood sex shop, where the two reportedly picked up some saucy toys.

'ROID RAGE - THE PLOT THICKENS

Newsday is reporting that Rossi might have been a key witness in an upcoming grand jury trial -

"he would have provided prosecutors an insider's view of the alleged crimes, answering critical questions such as where the steroids came from and who referred users to doctors willing to prescribe them."

Yipes! Sounds like a Law and Order episode.

'ROID RAGE

John Rossi, co-owner of Lowen's Pharmacy at 6902 3rd Ave. here in Bay Ridge, was found shot to death yesterday in an office above the pharmacy. As you may well know, Rossi was in the thick of a steroid investigation. Back in Sept. police seized about $8 million worth of steroids from the pharmacy.


Rossi was found dead of an apparent suicide (a note was found next to him that said "Please forgive me"). Rossi evidently shot himself in the chest, and then when that didn't work, shot himself in the head. And investigators said another slug was found in the room, but gave no details.

Despite the number of shots, the medical examiner's office deemed Rossi's death a suicide.

Three suicide shots? Peculiar.

"He wanted to make sure," explained a police source.

Oh, okay.

Rossi had also stuffed his ears with cotton. What!? He was going to kill himself but was afraid the noise might hurt his ears? Really peculiar.

Rossi was the subject of a criminal investigation and at the heart of an internal probe by the NYPD into steroid use among cops yet he was still allowed to keep a licensed gun? Super peculiar.

And for those of you who want a little Hollywood flair, the building where the pharmacy is located is owned by Rossi and Julius Nasso. Nasso used to be Steven Seagal's business partner and in 2002 --

FBI agents arrested Nasso on suspicion of conspiring to extort Seagal. The producer (Nasso) was charged alongside 16 people with alleged ties to the Gambino crime family.

Now there's a movie!

I wonder if the Preservationists and the Methodists used that pharmacy?