The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office in Florida finally arrested Christopher Edward Abate for several crimes. It was the culmination of their five-month investigation into the illegal activity of 44-year-old Deep Creek resident.

When authorities conducted the search of Abate’s house at 2511 Mauritania Road, they were able to seize more than 3,000 pills, steroid drugs, counterfeit identification and nearly $500,000 in cash.

They also recovered other evidence on the scene including vials and bottles of steroids with handwritten labels, equipment used to fill up and seal drug containers, and blank doctor’s prescription pads. Deputies also found several blank cards used for making counterfeit driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Further, authorities discovered that Abate had six different licenses that contained his photograph and three different names, according to the sheriff’s office report. Among the documents found was Abate’s release from Federal Probation relating to a prior prescription fraud charge.

The 44-year-old Abate was charged with five felony counts of possession of controlled substance for methadone, oxandrolone (anavar), fluoxymesterone, and oxymetholone (Anadrol). He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute of anavar, 42 counts of possession of prescription forms, and misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana less than 20 grams and possession of paraphernalia.

He was later booked into the Charlotte County Jail on the drug and counterfeit-making equipment charges on a $52,100 bond.