Ex US Gymnastics President Arrested For Tampering With Evidence In Larry Nassar Case
Oct. 18 2018, Updated 6:16 p.m. ET
The former President of the USA Gymnastics team, Steve Penny, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Tennessee on Wednesday, October 17 for tampering with evidence in the Larry Nassar sexual assault case, RadarOnline.com can reveal exclusive details on.
"We got a request for assistance from the Texas rangers," John Sanchez, a spokesperson the U.S. Marshals of Tennessee, told RadarOnline.com. "The initial request went through the Marshals in the southern district of Texas. The warrant out for his arrest came out of Texas and their investigation led to a request for our assistance."
Penny was arrested shortly after 7 p.m., Sanchez told RadarOnline.com.
"Deputy U.S. Marshals of Tennessee were able to arrest Steve Penny in a cabin in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area," Sanchez continued.
Sanchez explained that while the arrest "took place without incident," Penny did not have shoes on and needed assistance putting them on, as he was in "handcuffs at the time."
Penny could be sentenced to 2 to 10 years in state prison if convicted of the charges. He also faces up to a $10,000 fine.
"On September 28, 2018, a Walker County Grand Jury convened to continue their ongoing investigation of the Karolyi Ranch and those individuals who may have committed offenses related to the conduct of Dr. Larry Nassar at that location," a statement released to RadarOnline.com by the U.S. Marshals revealed. "On that same day, the Grand Jury returned an indictment on Penny for tampering with evidence, a third degree felony.
"According to the indictment, Steve Penny, the former president of USA Gymnastics, is alleged to have tampered with evidence during the investigation of sexual assault allegations against Dr. Larry Nassar. The indictment alleges that Penny ordered the removal of documents from the Karolyi Ranch in Walker County, Texas that were related to the activities of Nassar at the ranch."
The statement continued, "During the investigation by the Texas Rangers and the Walker County Sheriff's Office, several sources reported that Penny ordered the removal of the documents from the ranch after learning that an investigation was underway. The investigation revealed that the documents were delivered to Penny at the USAG Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana."
Penny is currently being held at the Sevier County Jail where he is awaiting extradition to Walker County, Texas to face charges.
"Deputy U.S. Marshals and task force officers from the Southern District of Texas and the Eastern District Tennessee worked tirelessly to locate Penny," stated David Jolley, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Tennessee. "Good police work ensured that Penny was swiftly and safely apprehended. He will now face the charges against him."
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As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Dr. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 125 years in prison for sexually assaulting over 200 underage girls involved in the U.S. gymnastics team.
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