Authorities are investigating the activities of the man, Steven Lorenzo, and are looking into whether he has knowledge of the disappearances last year of two men in Tampa.

A federal magistrate found on Wednesday that Lorenzo, who lived on Powhattan Avenue West, was a danger to the community and ordered him held without bail.

"The investigation does not end with Lorenzo's arrest," said Laura McElroy, spokeswoman for the Tampa Police Department, which is working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. attorney's office. "We still have several leads that we're following. It's very much an ongoing investigation."

Authorities would not comment on whether Lorenzo is a suspect in the cases of Jason Galehouse, 26, who is missing, and Michael Wachholtz, 26, who was killed. Both disappeared Dec. 20 in separate areas of Tampa.

"This is an ongoing investigation," U.S. attorney spokesman Steve Cole said. "We are looking for any other information that people may have. They should contact DEA or Tampa police. At this point, we have nothing that connects him to those two individuals. However, this is an ongoing investigation, and we by no means are finished."

Galehouse's mother, Pam Williams, said she talked to a Tampa police detective Monday. "He told me they made an arrest and they were going to pump him to see what they were going to get out of him," she said.

Authorities declined to release details about the circumstances of the six reported assaults, which the indictment says took place in February and November 2000, July 2001, December 2002 and March 2003.

The indictment, which was handed up Tuesday, says Lorenzo gave the victims gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, also known as Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate, or GHB, a colorless, odorless liquid that is sometimes used as a date-rape drug. Drinking as little as three drops can make people feel as if they have taken eight to 10 shots of whiskey, creating feelings of euphoria and drowsiness.

In higher doses, it can cause the taker to slip into a coma.

Lorenzo also is accused in the indictment of giving victims another date-rape drug, GBL, or gamma-gutyrolactone. The drug acts as a depressant and induces deep sleep and can lead to comas.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Porcelli gave U.S. Magistrate Thomas B. McCoun photographs seized during the investigation showing what appears to be at least one person wrapped in duct tape, lying on a bed. The man is wearing what appears to be a gas mask over his face.

In court, Porcelli read excerpts of computer conversations Lorenzo is accused of having, in which he discussed meeting men, drugging them and then having sex with them.

According to transcripts provided to the court, Lorenzo talked about enjoying sex that way.

In one conversation, Lorenzo is talking to another person about partying "with a boy."

The person identified by authorities as Lorenzo says, "Maybe you can help bring one down if you're so inclined sometime ... We can meet him out. Bring him back and drug him."

The other person asks, "How we going to take him down? The G?"

"Yup," Lorenzo responds.

"Sneak it to him in a drink?"

"Can you think of a better way?" Lorenzo responds.

"Nope."

"He will drop. We will take him back. Strip him. Tie him and use him as we please."

In another conversation, Lorenzo discusses how drugged victims have no way to find him after they are released, and some who disappear are suspected of being runaways.

Authorities announced two years ago that Lorenzo was among 20 people arrested in the Tampa Bay area as part of "Operation Webslinger," a nationwide investigation into the purchase of drugs over the Internet.

According to a news release issued at the time, the investigation targeted the Internet trafficking of GHB. No court records could be found Tuesday relating to that arrest.

Anyone who may have information related to the investigation is asked to call Tampa police Detective Chuck Massucci at (813) 276-3559.

Reporters Anthony McCartney and Valerie Kalfrin contributed to this report. Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.