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Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, chicken wing eating champ, indicted for drugs, report says

Bill Simmons AP Photo/New Jersey State Police

(CBS) A New Jersey man who is a five-time winner of the annual chicken wing eating contest called the Wing Bowl was indicted on drug charges Thursday, one day ahead of this year's competition in Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Bill "El Wingador" Simmons, 51, was indicted on four counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and one count of distributing cocaine after his June 2012 arrest for multiple drug-related offenses, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office.

Simmons issued an apologetic statement following his release Monday on $100,000 bail, and praised Gov. Chris Christie's efforts to push for mandatory drug treatment for nonviolent offenders, according to the Inquirer.

He said his 10 days spent in jail was a "life-changing experience," the newspaper reports.

Police said they found $8,000 worth of powder cocaine and $4,000 in cash in Simmons' car upon his arrest on June 15, 2012. Simmons said in a statement that he did not rebut the charges facing him, and apologized to his family and friends, according to the Inquirer.

Radio talk show host and Wing Bowl cofounder Angelo Cataldi said Simmons would not be allowed in this year's eating contest, according to the newspaper.

More on Crimesider
June 29, 2012 - Wing-eating champion Bill Simmons, jailed on drug charges, turns advocate for nonviolent offenders
June 20, 2012 - Wing eating champion William 'El Wingador' Simmons arrested on drug charges

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