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

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

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

``We're looking at all avenues and the possibility of his being connected,'' said U.S. Attorney spokesman Steve Cole. ``But, at this time, we can't go beyond that.''

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 known as GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, to the man in St. Petersburg last 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 allegedly bought the date rape drugs from Canada on the Internet. Last August, U.S. Postal Inspectors in Tampa intercepted a parcel of drugs mailed to Lorenzo's house.

DEA agents later interviewed Lorenzo, who admitted ordered the drugs online. Throughout the interview, Lorenzo ``repeatedly made the statement, 'I'm gay. I'm ... 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. Two additional possible victims were later identified, along with the seventh recently added to the charges against Lorenzo.

According to statements the victims gave police, Lorenzo met three of the men at the Metropolis bar and a fourth 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.

The affidavit describes a similar pattern of Lorenzo allegedly taking the men home and slipping drugs in their drinks. Later, they told police, they all awoke to signs of non- consensual sex attacks.

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