Cop involved in steroid sales destroys evidence as FBI visits CA home, feds say
A California police officer convicted of a scheme to sell anabolic steroids waited nearly an hour to meet FBI agents outside his home with a warrant, according to federal prosecutors.
The now-former Antioch police officer, Devon Wenger, destroyed evidence that prosecutors said implicated him in the scheme before letting FBI agents take his phone, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
Beginning at 8:03 a.m. on March 23, 2022, FBI agents called and texted Wenger about their arrival, letting him know of the warrant, prosecutors said.
Wenger didn’t appear until about 9 a.m., according to prosecutors, who said he used that extra time to delete text messages about selling and distributing anabolic steroids that he exchanged with another Antioch officer, Daniel Harris, and another person.
Harris, Wenger’s co-defendant, has pleaded guilty in the case, prosecutors said.
Now, following a three-day trial, a federal jury found Wenger, 33, guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of obstruction of justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in an April 30 news release.
Defense attorneys representing Wenger and Harris didn’t immediately return McClatchy News’ requests for comment on May 1.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins said in a statement that “instead of upholding the law, as he swore an oath to do, Devon Wenger conspired with a fellow officer to sell illegal anabolic steroids.”
“When the FBI arrived at his home to investigate him, he then doubled down by destroying evidence of his crime,” Robbins added.
The text messages Wenger deleted were related to a steroids sale he coordinated for Harris, along with the other person who prosecutors didn’t identify by name, in February 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
On the first day of Wenger’s trial, Harris, who’s also no longer with the Antioch police department, testified against Wenger, according to The Mercury News, which described Wenger and Harris as friends.
Harris told the courtroom that he bought anabolic steroids from someone based in Florida for himself, sold steroids to other officers and also helped connect officers with his seller, The Mercury News reported.
Ahead of Wenger’s trial, prosecutors wrote in court filings that “although Wenger may argue that he had a mere buyer-seller relationship with Harris, the evidence at trial will show instead his knowing participation in the conspiracy.”
In his defense, Wenger’s attorney, Dena Young said in court that “there is no evidence that Mr. Wenger was in possession of steroids,” according to The Mercury News. “There is no evidence that he distributed steroids to anyone else.”
Wenger’s conviction stems from an investigation into the Antioch Police Department and the neighboring Pittsburg Police Department, according to prosecutors. The investigation has resulted in Wegner and 13 other officers and police department employees being charged with varying offenses, including “from the use of excessive force to fraud,” prosecutors said
He’s due back in court on May 6 for a custody hearing ahead of sentencing, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He’s facing up to 10 years in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to 20 years in prison on the charge of obstruction of justice.
Civil rights case
Separate from the steroids case, Wenger and two other Antioch officers, including Morteza Amiri, are defendants in a civil rights case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Amiri, a former a K-9 handler with the Antioch Police Department, was convicted March 14 of unreasonably siccing his K-9 on a bicyclist and ordering the dog to bite the person, according to federal prosecutors, McClatchy News previously reported.
When contacted for comment on Amiri’s conviction, Antioch Police Chief Joe Vigil said in a statement to McClatchy News on March 17 that the department was “pleased the investigation is concluded and thank the FBI for conducting a very thorough investigation. We will continue to work and support them, as we have since the beginning of the investigation, in any way possible.”
“My focus continues to be on moving the Antioch Police Department forward and providing the quality public safety our community deserve,” Vigil added.
In the civil rights case, Wenger is charged with a conspiracy against rights and deprivation of rights under color of law, prosecutors said. His trial in that case is scheduled for July 21.
This story was originally published May 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM with the headline "Cop involved in steroid sales destroys evidence as FBI visits CA home, feds say."
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