Two owners of a Florida business that prospected for steroid customers on the Internet, producing about $5 million in annual revenue, pleaded guilty Wednesday to drug charges in a New York court.

Greg Trotta, 38, and Brian Schafler, 34, both of Delray Beach, Fla., agreed to testify against others in the multistate investigation by Albany County prosecutors in return for sentences of five years' probation. Each pleaded guilty to felony third-degree diversion of prescription medications and prescriptions, admitting they helped get drugs in 2006 for customers in upstate New York who had no medical need for them.

"I would actually put the order in," Schafler said in court.

He said he talked with customers, then had them talk by phone with Dr. Gary Brandwein, another owner of MedXLife.com, who signed and sent prescriptions, which were filled by Signature Pharmacy of Orlando.

"They paid for hits on Yahoo and other search engines," Assistant District Attorney Christopher Baynes said. Internet users who searched the word "steroids" would pull up MedXLife's Web site ahead of others, he said.

In business for about three years, the company was selling steroids, human growth hormone and testosterone, and it was the second biggest producer for Signature, Baynes said.

"They did $5 million dollars a year in business," he said.

The Web site says MedXLife is currently unable to complete patient orders, not taking new patients or refilling prescriptions.

In New York, it is illegal for a doctor to prescribe drugs without examining the patient in person, and illegal for a pharmacy to dispense prescription drugs without a valid prescription. Both Trotta and Schafler said Brandwein didn't see the patients.

Brandwein of Boca Raton, Fla., a 44-year-old osteopath, has pleaded not guilty to six counts in Albany County Court related to the criminal sale of a controlled substance. Four owners and employees of Signature, which is at the center of the investigation, also have pleaded not guilty to multiple charges.

Charges are pending against seven others. Five other people from Texas, Florida and New York, including two former physicians, have pleaded guilty.

Trotta and Schafler agreed to forfeit $10,000 each. District Attorney P. David Soares said that restitution will exceed the investigation's expenses so far.

Prosecutors say they targeted distributors, not customers, who reportedly included several professional athletes.

Abramoff assisted Zachares in obtaining his committee post. Zachares left Young's staff in 2005. Young's office declined to comment Tuesday.

"Guilty, your honor," Zachares told U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle, who had asked what plea he would enter to a single count of conspiracy. He faces a maximum of five years in prison, but under federal sentencing guidelines will probably face two years or less.

After the court appearance, defense attorney Edward MacMahon declined to say whether Young knew what Zachares was doing on behalf of Abramoff.

Zachares agreed to cooperate with the government's continuing investigation and, outside the courthouse, MacMahon reinforced that point.

The former Republican aide is the fifth congressional staffer to plead guilty in the Abramoff scandal, including two former aides to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

Zachares provided information to Abramoff about pending congressional actions on the reorganization of federal agencies into the Homeland Security Department.

Zachares said in court that Abramoff and his lobbying team supplied him with $30,000 worth of tickets to sporting events and concerts on more than 40 occasions in the 18 months from mid-2002 to early 2004.

Zachares accompanied Abramoff and six others, including Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla., on a $160,000 golf junket to Scotland in 2003, according to the conspiracy count to which Zachares pleaded guilty.

Feeney's office said the Justice Department has contacted the congressman to request more information and that Feeney is cooperating.

Early this year, Feeney agreed to reimburse the government $5,643 for the Scotland trip.

According to a statement of facts that Zachares signed on March 14, he "falsely reported the cost of transportation, lodging and meals as only $5,643, a figure coordinated with Abramoff to be substantially identical as the figures other attendees, including Representative .3, would report."Representative .3" refers to Feeney. After Tuesday's guilty plea, Feeney's office said only that the congressman "is anxious to discuss this matter at the appropriate time."

Stewart has insisted that she "is not a traitor" and has said that she was only advocating for her client. She remains free pending appeal of her conviction.

The former Brighton Charter Academy teacher accused of fondling one of her students and providing him with alcohol during an overnight trip to Estes Park pleaded guilty Tuesday to three charges.

Carrie McCandless, 29, pleaded to tampering with physical evidence, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and unlawful sexual contact.

Under the plea agreement, McCandless avoids prison, but will serve 45 days in the Larimer County jail. She also will serve a 5 year deferred sentence and will spend time in a sex offender program with intensive supervised probation. A sentencing hearing for McCandless is scheduled for June 8.

"Due to the possible consequences of going to trial and being unsuccessful, Ms. McCandless felt like she was in a position that she had to accept the plea bargain," defense attorney Trent Trani said.

McCandless was charged with sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

"There was never any kind of sexual intercourse or anything other than Mr. Clay fondling her," Trani said. "It's ridiculous to assert that she subjected him to this contact and I think that's what should have been heard by a jury."

The victim, Tommy Clay, appeared on national TV last month. Clay said he and McCandless became friends during a summer school session because he found it easy to talk with her.

Clay said when another teacher discovered the relationship, "I told Mrs. McCandless that I would take the fall for it. I didn't want her ending up losing her job and I figured I had a lot less to lose than she did."

She was 29 and Clay was 17 at the time, authorities said. McCandless was fired. Her husband, Chris, is principal of the school in Brighton, on the northeast edge of the Denver area.

Upper St. Clair attorney Charles McCullough, under scrutiny for his management of a widow’s trust fund, has dropped out of the race for an at-large Republican seat on Allegheny County Council, his former campaign coordinator said today.

McCullough also no longer works for Downtown law firm Eckert, the firm’s CEO, Tim Ryan, confirmed this afternoon.

"He is not employed by, nor associated with, Eckert Seamans," said Ryan, who declined further comment.

Ryan said the firm is still examining how McCullough helped manage a fund for Shirley H. Jordan, 90, of Upper St. Clair, that donated $10,000 each to a judicial candidate, three council members and a Catholic charity headed by McCullough's wife. The money was returned after the recipients learned that Jordan suffers from dementia.

McCullough was running against Republican Kevin Acklin for the council seat.