Latest Ensared by BALCO: Greg Anderson's Wife

It's on.

Federal prosecutors have targeted former Barry Bonds' trainer, Greg Anderson's wife, Nicole S. Gestas in an effort to make Anderson testify. Anderson was imprisoned for approximately a year and half for failing to answer prosecutors' questions relating to Bonds' use of PED's. Anderson was released last November once Bonds was indicted on five felony charges - four for perjury and one for obstruction of justice - for testifying in front of a federal grand jury in 2003 that he had never used PED's.

The United States attorney's office in the Northern District of California sent a "target letter" to Anderson's wife in November after the indictment advising her that she could be charged with conspiring to commit a crime against the government. A federal conspiracy charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This letter advised her to contact the public defender's office if she could not afford a lawyer while it conveniently failed to specify the crime the authorities believe she had conspired to commit. While not specifically stating that it was intending to apply pressure on Anderson the message was clear since it was signed by Matthew Parrella, an assistant US attorney who is lead prosecutor in the BALCO investigation.

Bonds' legal team filed a motion in January to have the original 5 count indictment against him dismissed and a judge ruled in February that the authorities had to narrow the indictment or bring new charges to proceed. The government filed a new indictment in May.

It was Malone from The Untouchables who said, "When they send one of your guys to the hospital, you send one of theirs to the morgue." This is, metaphorically speaking, the government trying to send Anderson, not to the morgue, but to the stand and testify against his former client. Now if Anderson continues his stance and refuses to testify, his wife could be going to jail with him.

Anderson's refusal to testify has made him spend the most time in prison than any other defendant in the six year BALCO investigation. He served a three month term in 2005 after pleading guilty to distributing steroids and money laundering. Anderson could still face more jail time since prosecutors could still charge him with criminal contempt or obstruction of justice if he continues his stance.

Greg: after spending a year and a half in jail and your wife of a little more than two years possibly going to the hole for up to five years and having to pay a $250K fine, why do you still refuse to testify? You could go back to the hole along with your wife! I guess that's what true love is, but to whom: your wife or Barry?

This stance does not make any sense, which is why the only logical conclusion is Mr. Bonds has determined to take care of you financially for not testifying against him. As the cards are laid out on the table, it looks like from your time served and the possibility of fines and time served by your wife, we're looking at approximately $750K to $2.5MM. This assumption does not include legal fees and would drop substantially if Ms. Gestas opts for the public defender.