SPOKANE - A Moses Lake powerlifter and former world bench press record holder was sentenced Friday to nearly 2.5 years in federal prison for importing anabolic steroids.

Ryan Shawn Kennelly, 39, pleaded guilty in March to the charge of importing anabolic steroids into the United States from India. He has been in federal custody since February.

Kennelly, known as the "Bench Monster," had 1,503 anabolic steroid tablets shipped to him in December 2010, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In 2010, an overseas package arrived for Kennelly at the U.S. Post Office in Kennewick. Kennelly then called the post office to see if the package had arrived. A federal warrant was obtained by postal inspectors, who then searched the package, finding the tablets.

Just two months prior, the Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team seized more than a kilogram of powder steroids during a search of Kennelly's residence in Moses Lake.

Grant County prosecutors charged Kennelly with possession and intent to distribute anabolic steroids in October 2010. He was also charged in December 2010 in Benton County Superior Court on similar charges, according to a previous story in the Columbia Basin Herald.

Both cases were dismissed while authorities sought federal charges.

Kennelly will also have three years of court supervision following his nearly 2.5 year sentence.

Kennelly set the world record for bench press at 1,075 pounds at the 2008 Pride Strength Wars in Kennewick. His record was broken earlier this year, according to the World Powerlifting Organization.