SAYREVILLE — A borough man was sentenced last week to 33 months in federal prison for operating a steroid manufacturing operation out of his home and illegal possession of two firearms.

During a hearing in Newark Jan. 22, U.S. District Judge William H. Walls ordered Alfred Scarpa, 35, to voluntarily surrender to the Bureau of Prisons no later than March 23.

Last September, Scarpa pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, and the unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kirsch, who handled the prosecution. Scarpa admitted at his plea hearing that he sold anabolic steroids, which he manufactured and stored in the basement of his residence, and that he owned and possessed two semiautomatic firearms, also kept in the residence.

Scarpa was arrested at his Rhode Street residence in September 2007 as part of Operation Raw Deal, a nationwide investigation and take-down of individuals suspected of engaging in the underground illegal manufacture and distribution of steroids. The operation resulted in criminal charges against more than 125 people across the country, including Scarpa.

Scarpa's arrest was made as officers from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Postal Inspection Service and Food and Drug Administration searched his home. Authorities said the search of the residence revealed "a substantial, active and ongoing laboratory used for the manufacturing of anabolic steroids," including numerous tubs filled with labeled, finished steroid products, a plastic receptacle containing more than 10,000 tablets of apparent steroid products, raw steroid powders, and numerous vats containing a variety of liquid steroid compounds that included labels for clomiphene citrate, boldenone undecylenate, stanozolol, primobolan, trenbolone acetate, nandrolone and testosterone.

In addition, law enforcement seized two .40-caliber semiautomatic pistols. In 2003, Scarpa had been convicted of a felony offense for conspiracy to distribute ketamine in Union County, and in 2000 he had been convicted of distributing cocaine in Monmouth County. As a convicted felon, he was precluded from possessing any firearms, Kirsch said. As part of his plea, Scarpa forfeited the firearms that were seized by law enforcement.

Scarpa has remained free on a $250,000 bond, secured by his residence in Sayreville, and his wife's parents' residence in Howell. He will have to serve nearly all the time imposed in his sentence, as parole has been abolished in the federal system.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra Jr. credited special agents of the FBI under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dunn in Newark, and special agents of the DEA under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gerard P. McAleer.