Steven Lorenzo, 45, formerly of 213 W. Powhatan Ave., waived his right to appear in U.S. District Court, and a not- guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

At the same time, documents show, a seventh person was added to the list of men Lorenzo is accused of sexually attacking between 2000 and 2003.

Authorities also are investigating whether Lorenzo is connected to the Dec. 20, 2003, disappearance of two gay men in Tampa: Jason Galehouse, 26, who still is missing, and Michael Wachholtz, 26, who was killed.

The additional victim appears on a new indictment of Lorenzo filed last month. It accuses him of giving a dose of the ``date rape'' depressant gamma-hydroxybutyric acid to the man in St. Petersburg in October without his knowledge with the intent to commit a violent crime, including sexual assault.

According to an affidavit filed by a federal Drug Enforcement Agency agent investigating the case, Lorenzo is accused of buying the date rape drugs from Canada on the Internet. In August, U.S. Postal Service inspectors in Tampa intercepted a parcel of drugs mailed to Lorenzo's house.

DEA agents interviewed Lorenzo, who said he ordered the drugs online, authorities said. Throughout the interview, he ``repeatedly made the statement, `I'm gay. ... I'm gay,' '' the affidavit states.

Last year, Tampa police and federal agents began investigating Lorenzo and others as suspects in drug-related sex attacks on at least four men in Tampa.

According to the accusers statements, Lorenzo met three of the men at the Metropolis bar and a fourth man at Club 2606, both in Tampa. A fifth man said he was picked up by Lorenzo while working as a prostitute on Kennedy Boulevard. A sixth man said he met Lorenzo in an America Online chat.

Reporter Brad Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7365.