The Hennepin County medical examiner has determined that amateur bodybuilder Erik Fromm died from an accidental overdose of Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a highly potent painkiller described as 80 times as strong as morphine. Fromm was in a severe car accident that resulted in severe pain.
Fromm had a serious traffic accident about a year ago in Wyoming, causing him severe pain in his lower back and in his legs and arms, said Kevin Schreifels, a friend of Fromm’s.
“He was rating the pain pretty high,” said Schreifels, a doctor at Lyn-Lake Chiropractic in Minneapolis. He said he was unaware of Fromm using fentanyl.
Over the course of the investigation, Dr. Levine was always alone in his medical office; there were no secretaries, nurses, or other administrative support staff present but he had a pool table a refrigerator full of beer. Levine never conducted any sort of medical assessment or history before prescribing steroids. During the course of the investigation, Levine discussed the resale of steroids by his clients including suggested prices. He also told his clients that they were considered drug dealers under the law and suggested that they refer their customers to him to avoid the possibility of criminal prosecution; he even offered to pay them a referral fee if they chose to do that.
Search warrants executed on Levine’s MSN and AOL email accounts (seattelmd@hotmail.com and ageisonlyanumber@aol.com) revealed that he sold steroids over the internet using the alias “Alan” where customers paid by credit card; there was no physical examination or medical questionnaire or any semblance of a doctor-patient relationship.
Levine was previously disciplined for sellingViagra over the internet via his company Confirmed.com LLC and ordered to cease selling prescription drugs via email and over the internet.
Levine was sentenced to prison for trying to extort $500,000 from Jack-in-the-Box stating that he was given spoiled chicken and threatening to take his story to the New York Times.
Did you ever wonder how an internet source gets busted? It’s often a textbook process by the feds in many cases. Most sources are not particularly sophisticated. And you usually have a couple of low level sources and partners who flip the bigger internet source. These guys are richly rewarded by our criminal justice system. Court documents provide some insightful details.
It started with the arrest of Jacob Piergiovanni aka “D2K3″ on April 10, 2007. D2K3’s computer revealed he had imported about 2,000 lbs of steroid powder since 2003. D2K3 was busted thanks to a cooperating defendent in Louisiana.
Two weeks later, under instruction from the feds, Piergiovanni used his email account d2k3@cyber-rights.net to place an order for anabolic steroid powders from “Worldwide” at worldwidegrowth@hushmail.com.
On April 26, 2007, FDA Special Agent David Westall used D2K3’s handle and email account to arrange the purchase of 2 kilograms of powder testosterone propionate, testosterone base, and testosterone enanthate from Worldwide for $1600.
On April 28, 2007, Worldwide requested that two payments of $800 be sent via Western Union to Alex Lewis in Ingliss, Florida with identification requirement waived in favor of a test question and answer.
On April 30, 2007, undercover SA David Westall using the handle D2K3 made payment according to Worldwide’s instructions.
On May 21, 2007, Worldwide emailed D2K3 (SA Westall) to inform him that steroid powders arrived from China.
On May 23, 2007, Worldwide shipped the steroid powder to an undercover mailbox in Brunswick, George that SA Westall provided as a shipping address.
On May 24, 2007, just over one kilogram of steroid powder was received at the undercover box. The steroid powder was shipped from Antioch, Tennessee.
At this point, federal investigators knew that Worldwide was not operating alone. Someone else was receiving and remailing steroids for Worldwide. So, they arranged a sting operation to bust Worldwide’s partner in Tennessee.
On May 25, 2007, SA Westall asked if Worldwide would be willing to receive steroid shipments from China on his behalf. SA Westall did not want to use Worldwide’s source but wanted to use his own Chinese steroid supplier.
Worldwide agreed to receive 2 kilograms of steroid powder from SA Westall’s China powder source and remail it to SA Westall (still operating under D2K3 handle). The fee for this service was $350 payable via Greendot pre-paid Visa/Mastercard.
On May 28, 2008, SA Westall purchased a Greendot card at CVS Pharmacy and emailed the card number to Worldwide.
SA Westall then requested a mailing address from Worldwide where the Chinese steroid powder could be shipped.
SA Westall then made an undercover purchase of steroid powder from a Chinese supplier of anabolic steroids identified as “top_hormone”. We believe this is well-known spammer Andy Xu who spammed various bodybuilding message boards using the following email addresses and websites:
On May 29, 2007, Worldwide told SA Westall to have the Chinese steroid supplier ship the steroids to Jeff Beaty’s home address; Worldwide unknowingly gave up his partner, including real name and home address, to the feds.
SA Westall paid “top_hormone” $1217 for two kilograms of powder steroids.
On May 30th and May 31, 2007, “top_hormone” shipped two kilograms of powder steroids via expedited delivery in two shipments to Jeff Beaty aka “The Priest” in Antioch, Tennessee.
On June 2nd and June 4, 2007, both packages of steroids arrived at the Nashville, Tennessee post office.
On June 4, 2007, federal agents executed an anticipatory search warrant at Jeff Beaty’s house where they found the two kilograms of steroid powder from top_hormone. The next day they were surprised to see another shipment arrive from China containing 100 vials of growth hormone along with a FedEx envelope with $2300 cash.
Federal agents learned that Beaty received steroids and growth hormone from China and remailed them on behalf of Worldwide. In addition, Beaty was responsible for the receipt of payments for internet steroid sales and wiring payment to Chinese suppliers of steroids and growth hormone on behalf of Worldwide.
“The Priest” gave investigators Worldwide’s phone number. The feds subpoenaed phone records and learned that the phone number was the home phone registered to Matthew Jack (subsequently identified as the father of Worldwide) in Homosassa, Florida. The feds learned that David Paul Jack aka Worldwide lived with his mom and dad at that residence.
On June 14, 2007, a search warrant was executed at the home of Worldwide’s elderly mother and father in Homosassa, Florida. His parents confirmed their son had several Greendot cards in various different names, they identified their son’s voice in voice messages left on Jeff Beaty’s phone, and permitted investigators to review their caller id box where Jeff Beaty’s phone number appeared multiple times. The stated they did not know Beaty and their son was the only other person in the household who made and received phone calls.
David Paul Jack’s girlfriend gave up all the fraudulent names and identities used for Greendot cards and his internet handles including “bjbowden”. She told investigators that Worldwide also had a partner in California in addition to the “The Priest” in Tennessee.
“The Priest” continued to cooperate with federal investigators and allowed the feds to use his online identity in ongoing correspondence with Worldwide.
The Outcome
All three people involved face similar steroid distribution and conspiracy charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids. They all faced up to 5 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
David Paul Jack aka “Worldwide” and “bjbowden” pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He was sentenced to 48 months in prison on December 18, 2007. In exchange, he got to choose which prison he would serve his sentence. His 15-month old daughter is now being raised by his parents.
Jacob Piergiovanni aka “D2K3″ pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He was sentenced to 5 years probations on December 10, 2007 in exchange for his cooperation with the feds.
Jeff Beaty aka “The Priest” pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He was sentenced to 5 years probation on February 15, 2008 in exchange for his cooperation with the feds.
New York Yankees baseball player Andy Pettitte allegedly obtainedhuman growth hormone from his father who obtained it from Kelly Blair who may have obtained it from pro bodybuilder Craig Titus. It has yet to be determined where Craig Titus obtained the growth hormone. Former IFBB Pro bodybuilder Craig Titus has been in jail awaiting trial in the murder of his personal assistant
Kelly Blair is the owner of 1-on-1 Elite Personal Fitness in Pasadena, Texas. He attended Deer Park High School with Andy Pettite. Craig Titus is formerly from the Houston area.
According to the Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan Investigation website:
The Daily News reports some of the drugs came from steroid-user Craig Titus, a champion bodybuilder who is facing a murder trial in Nevada for the slaying of his former live-in assistant.
Kelly Blair is also allegedly linked to Roger Clemens son:
Also, Blair was reportedly seen working with Koby Clemens, the son of seven- time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who was involved in a heated congressional hearing this past week. However, the Daily News reports that Koby Clemens, who is now playing baseball in the minors, hasn’t been linked to any illicit activity at the gym.
Dave Palumbo of Muscular Development reports that former IFBB Pro Bodybuilder and former American Gladiator Shelley Beattie died on February 13, 2008. She was 39 years old.
Beattie played “Siren” on the original American Gladiators series (not be confused with Valerie Waugaman who plays “Siren” in the current series). Beattie was one of very few and the most accomplished deaf female professional bodybuilders. She was an actress who appeared in the movie Hot Shots! Part Deaux that starred Charlie Sheen. She was formerly married to John Romano, senior editor for Muscular Development Magazine.
Police arrested Mobareki on one count each of possession and dealing marijuana, six counts of possessing a controlled substance and seven counts of dealing those drugs.
Police have been monitoring his activities at the Center Grove Health Club in Greenwood, Indiana where Mobareki worked as a personal trainer.
Mr. Indiana Joseph Mobareki has competed in various amateur bodybuilding contests since 2000, including NPC Indiana Bodybuilding Championships, IFBB North American Championships, NPC USA contest and NPC Junior Nationals.
Real journalists are supposed to rely on verifiable facts when writing news stories. Michael Brick of the New York Times appears to be guilty of sloppy fact-checking in his coverage of the federal steroid investigations down in Texas.
A black Hummer pulled into the Hooters parking lot as dusk fell. Arthur Dale Atwood, a professional bodybuilder with a 61-inch chest, opened the tailgate for a police informant to deliver more than 100 bottles of fake drugs made from vegetable oil.
The story implies that Art Atwood was selling and dealing “fake” steroids. Court documents which provide details of the sting operation indicate that federal investigators gave the police informant fake steroids in place of real steroids as part of the Atwood sting operation. “Fake” steroids are often used in sting operations to establish conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute.
Furthermore, the police informant involved in the federal steroid sting operation was Art Atwood’s best friend; Atwood had no reason to suspect he was being sold fake steroids. His best friend had been acquiring steroids from David Jacobs who was distributing legitimate steroids imported from China according to independent sources.
Prosecutors could have tried Atwood and Jacobs on multiple counts of drug conspiracy, seeking to make an example of two bodybuilders suspected of distributing steroids. But instead, they made deals that could keep both men from serving any prison time.
Art has informed MESO-Rx that he had not entered into a plea agreement with federal investigators and the New York Times assertion of such a deal was categorically false. Atwood has not been charged with a crime and it remains to be seen if charges are filed against him for his involvement.
Atwood and Jacobs were enlisted to cooperate in Operation Raw Deal, the federal government’s most aggressive drive yet to interrupt the importation and traffic of performance-enhancing drugs through nutrition stores, gyms and Web sites. In September, authorities in 10 countries coordinated the arrests of more than 120 people, seized more than $6 million and collected 11 million steroid doses, 3 boats and dozens of weapons.
While the Texas investigation is a complex and interconnected case, Atwood explains that his involvement in the case is different from Jacobs; Atwood does not have the same connections e.g. with NFL football players, nor does he have a plea agreement with prosecutors assuring him that he will avoid jail time. The facts involving Atwood’s case are significantly different and will be judged independently, contrary to suggestions by the New York Times of similarities between the Atwood and Jacobs cases. As he told the local CBS affiliate, “David did his own thing; I was my own entity.”
Through the summer, six other people connected to Atwood and Jacobs were arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute steroids. Most have pleaded guilty to the federal distribution charge. In interviews, investigators and defense lawyers described the six as bodybuilders who were supplied by Atwood and Jacobs and who were familiar with one another partly through competitions and mostly through online sales.
The New York Times implies that six bodybuilders were arrested as the result of Art Atwood’s cooperation with federal investigators. Atwood strongly denies the truth of this allegation; the implication that they were “turning people in left and right” is untrue. Furthermore, none of the six indicted co-conspirators of David Jacobs have accused Atwood as being responsible for their arrests.
While the parties affected by the federal steroid investigation in Texas are restricted by what they can say to the press by legal considerations, the full truth and details of this large scale investigation will become a matter of public record soon - most likely upon sentencing of the parties involved. MESO-Rx tries to provide additional information as it becomes available but the details are incomplete and we should be cautious before we rush to judgment in the absence of all of the facts.
NPC bodybuilder Erik Fromm was found dead in home; he was 36 years old. The cause of death is under investigation by the Hennepin County (Minnesota) Medical Examiner’s Office. Police do not suspect foul play.
Erik From was planning to marry his fiancee, Micah Brown, on August 18, 2008 at Fromm’s ancestral home in Scotland. Now, Micah will travel to Scotland to spread Erik’s ashes on their planned wedding date.
[Erik was at] the happiest point in his life… Things were really coming together.
He was a warrior and been a hero to everybody — everybody’s big brother, everybody’s father.
MESO-Rx extends our sympathies to Micah Brown and the Fromm family.
A memorial service for Fromm is scheduled for Saturday at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Av. S., Minneapolis. Memorials toward paying for Brown’s visit to Scotland are requested and can be mailed to Lyn-Lake Chiropractic, in care of Micah Brown, 2937 Lyndale Av. S., Suite 201, Minneapolis, MN 55408.
The Los Angeles Police Department discovered former bodybuilding cosmetic surgeon Bruce Nadler, MD and his wife dead as the result of gunshot wounds on Monday, February 4, 2008. Authorities believe it is an apparent murder-suicide perpetrated by Bruce Nadler.
Bruce Nadler called himself the “world’s strongest plastic surgeon.” He was probably the best known cosmetic surgeon catering to amateur and professional bodybuilders. He had performed over 700 gynecomastia surgeries in his career; “gyno” is a side effect of anabolic steroid use when antiaromatase and/or estrogen antagonists are not use concurrently.
After retiring from the practice of medicine in August 2005, Dr. Nadler, who called himself “the world’s strongest plastic surgeon,” wrote the “The Nip Tuck Workout: Exercise through the Eyes of a Plastic Surgeon” and subsequently moved with his wife to Los Angeles to reinvent himself in a new career as personal trainer with the opening of Nip Tuck Fitness LA in Beverly Hills.
Retired plastic surgeon and certified personal trainer Bruce J. Nadler M.D. has brought his Plastic Synergy training system to Los Angeles. As stated in his book, “The Nip Tuck Workout - Exercise through the Eyes of a Plastic Surgeon,” Dr. Nadler has created an exercise program based on the plastic surgical principles of proportion and symmetry. It combines careful analysis with an individualized exercise prescription.
Bruce Nadler, MD retired after the New York State Board of Professional Medical Conduct charged him with 29 specifications of professional misconduct in thirteen patients according to public records. Rather than fight the charges, Nadler submitted and consent agreement and voluntarily relinquished his medical license.
Failure to obtain and/or note an adequate and complete medical history and/or history of current complaint from patient.
Failure to perform and/or note a complete and appropriate physical examination of patient.
Failure to obtain and/or note appropriate and medically indicated laboratory studies on patient including: prolactin, TSH, LH, hepatic and renal function, and assays for estrogen levels and HCG.
Failure to properly diagnose patient’s condition and/or rule out underlying disorders.
Inappropriately and without medical idnication and/or justification, prescribing and/or maintaining patient on various medications.
Failure to maintain a medical record for patient in accordance with accepted medical standards which accurately reflects his care and treatment of the patient.
Bruce Nadler’s beliefs regarding anabolic steroids and bodybuilding were controversial for physician. He explained his own steroid use and his willingness to prescribe steroids and growth hormone to his patients in an interview with Testosterone Nation:
I’m my own test laboratory in that respect because, in the last two years, I’ve been taking 6 to 8 IUs a week of growth hormone, and I alternate between 200 mg a week of deca and 200 mg of testosterone cypionate the next week. Instead of going super physiological, I believe in just going to maximum natural levels to that of a man in his twenties. In this way, there are no side effects.
Nadler was also critical of the steroid hysteria in the U.S. and the political posturing surrounding anabolic steroids:
I’ve always felt that politicians always have to make the majority of the electorate think that they’re doing something? So they inconvenience a small, unimportant group, like bodybuilders. They have no idea what they’re talking about. Somebody hands them a speech, and they go! They took something that could have been done safely and sent it to the black market and all of the inherent dangers that go along with dealing with that element. Will they ever be legal again? I hope so.
The man that pro bodybuilder Craig Titus hired to kill witnesses has been found guilty on three counts of solicitation to commit murder. Nelson Ronald Brady, Jr. was an obsessed bodybuilding fan of Craig Titus who told investigators that Titus asked him to kill Anthony Gross, Megan Pierson Foley and Jeremy Foley. These three witnesses offered incriminating testimony against Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan during grand jury proceedings. Titus and Ryan are charged with killing their personal assistant, Melissa James, in December 2005.
, senior editor for 
