More than 2000 vials of a banned steroid have been found by Customs officials inside a parcel sent to Sydney from Thailand.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the steroid seizure by customs in February has resulted in ongoing steroid busts in Sydney Australia (”Steroids found in Thai parcel: customs,” April 1).
Customs officers at Australia Post’s Gateway Facility in Sydney found the 2,378 ampoules of Sustanon 250, Stanozol and Nandrolone in plastic bags after examining a parcel from Thailand said to contain glass figures…
After finding the drugs in the mail on February 19, Customs investigators executed search warrants on premises in south-western Sydney last Friday and seized evidentiary material.
Investigations into the major steroid seizure are continuing.
Customs national manager for investigations, Richard Janezcko, said the agency was “continuing to detect and investigate increased attempts to smuggle prohibited and restricted performance enhancing drugs into Australia”.
Australia’s war on steroids is one of the most aggressive in the world, perhaps even more draconian than the efforts by the United States.
Everytime a steroid source is busted, there is considerable internet buzz about whether the source will “rat out” anyone. And everyone involved in the underground steroid black market wants to know whether their colleagues, their customers, or their sources will turn their name(s) over to federal/state investigators. Internet entrepreneurs have realized the demand for this type of information, much to the chagrin of law enforcement, with websites like Who’s A Rat? (”Web site that rats out informants worries Dallas officials,” March 29).
The site seeks to expose people who “rat on a business associates, friends, or family members just to save themselves,” said Chris Brown, whosarat.com spokesman…
The site has survived because of free speech protections, he said. “The bottom line is we provide the forum. The members post…”
Currently, anyone can go to Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) and download information about their favorite busted steroid source, past and present, including the criminal complaint, the indictment, and the plea agreement. I think this sort of transparency in our criminal justice system is great.
Unfortunately, websites like WhosaRat.com and RateMyCop.com have raised concerns among law enforcement that may ultimately restrict the public’s access to court records. This is a worthy debate in and of itself. But I want to focus on another aspect the process - plea agreements - and why these do not necessarily make the defendant a “rat.”
Practically all individuals indicted in steroid conspiracy, steroid possession, and steroid distributions charges will ultimately reach plea agreements with federal prosecutors. But a plea agreement by a defendent does not always mean they have ratted out either distributors higher on the steroid supply chain or customers lower on the steroid supply chain.
Plea agreements, especially in victimless crimes like steroid possession, are often reached to ease an overburdened criminal justice system (”Plea deals help make courts efficient,” November 18, 2007).
Plea agreements can save time and money while bringing a faster resolution for the accused and accuser. Without them, experts say, the courts would become clogged, bogged down and overworked.
“Obviously, from the standpoint of the court being able to function efficiently, without plea agreements, the system would slow down dramatically,” said La Crosse County Circuit Judge Scott Horne, elected to the bench last spring after 22 years as county district attorney.
Prosecutors like plea agreements because they guarantee a conviction. There are several types of plea agreements. Defendants can plead guilty to a lesser charge or some of the charges for a speedy conviction. They can also agree to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence. Obviously, these type of plea agreements do not make them a snitch or a rat.
Clearly, some plea agreements involve the cooperation with ongoing investigations and/or testifying against a co-defendant, etc. Even these cases don’t always involve snitching on others. For example, the “cooperaton” could involve teaching federal prosecutors how a major steroid smuggling operation works in exchange for a more lenient sentence.
Other plea agreements could involve testifying against a co-defendant or a party in a related investigation. Often times, prosecutors ask defendants to simply confirm the evidence already collected by prosecutors. But even then, sometimes the cooperation is really too innocuous to qualify the defendant as a “rat.” A good example is the recent testimony of Patrick Arnold (Ergopharm) at Tammy Thomas’ doping trial. Pat explains his testimony here to readers of the MESO-Rx Blog:
I was basically forced into a very crappy situation. Last year right before i went to prison they subpoenaed me to a grand jury hearing. in that hearing they showed me evidence they had against tammy and it was clear to me they had all they needed to show i sold her stuff. So i told them yes i did.
if i did not, then i would have gone to prison. and it would not have done anything to help tammy anyway.
the good thing about this is that tammy’s attorneys are not even trying to deny she got stuff and took it, so my testimony this week was pretty moot. they are using another angle and surprisingly it turned out that my 3 hours on the stand helped tammy’s side much more then it helped the feds.
Other plea agreements (usually the sealed variety) involve confidential informants or cooperating defendants involved in sting operatons; these are typically what are called “rats” or “snitches.”
But the problem with websites like WhosaRat.com is that when plea agreements are uploaded, members often do not discriminate and assume the agreements to be proof that the defendant is a rat.
Authorities point out that a plea deal is not necessarily proof that someone is an informant or plans to testify against another defendant.
While it is always wise to assume the worst to protect yourself, assumptions based on incomplete information may not always be accurate.
Scott Haines, a personal trainer at the Nashville Athletic Club, was arrested this week last month for manfacturing and distributing anabolic steroids. Several hundred vials of anabolic steroids from an unidentified underground lab were confiscated by police. (Steroid pictures of vials from this underground lab thought to be Diamond Labs.)
The continuing investigation by Central Precinct undercover detectives into the illegal distribution of steroids in the Nashville area has resulted in the rearrest of suspect Scott Haines…
Haines’ probation was violated following his February 19 arrest on two counts of possessing steroids for resale. He was stopped after Central detectives saw him conducting sales from his vehicle. Recovered that day were 2,200 dosage units of anabolic steroid, $3,090 cash, and a 1994 Nissan Altima. Recovered on February 20 during a search of Haines’ Brooksboro Terrace apartment in South Nashville were 500 dosage units of anabolic steroid and 300 grams of powder used to manufacture steroids.
Scott Haines was apparently the steroid source for multiple police officers from different Tennesseean law enforcement agencies who worked out at the Nashville Athletic Club.
Three Metro police officers were decommissioned Feb. 29 after they were implicated in steroid use. Officers Mike Evans, Danny Cage and Stephen Reece are on “administrative assignment” with pay and required to be at home from the work hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., police spokesman Don Aaron said…
Sena Omer, 24, was set to graduate from the police academy March 6. He resigned the day before after questioning from detectives, police said.
Murfreesboro Officer Phillip Hatcher was stripped of his gun and badge on Monday, but Channel 4 News learned on Thursday that he was fired from the department.
Two Tennessee Highway Patrol officers have been placed on administrative leave with pay pending an internal investigation.
The Department of Safety said Sgt. Larry Hitchcock and Trooper William Futrell, both 36, are under investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility.
Spokeswoman Laura McPherson would not give further details on the investigation, but the Highway Patrol has said it is looking into allegations of troopers using or selling steroids.
The steroid investigation is a joint operation between local law enforcement and the DEA.
Former NPC Bodybuilder Tom Vigliatura has been falsely accused of selling steroids by reporter Lee Hammel of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspaper in Massachusetts. However, I am certain that this false accusation is the least of Thomas Vigliatura’s concerns; Vigliatura has been in prison since August 2005. He was sentenced this week to 51 months in federal prison and ordered to forfeit his home and his defunct supplement store, T. Vig’s Sports Supplements Unlimited for selling Ecstasy, Cocaine and GHB - but NOT steroids (”Bodybuilder gets 51 months, forfeits home and business,” March 24).
Thomas J. Vigliatura, 40, of 118 Santoro Road, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy from 2002 to 2004 to distribute illegal steroids known as GHB and GBL and to possess cocaine and Ecstasy as well as distribution of GBL and GHB.
Reporter Lee Hammel wants to throw in steroid distribution as one of the charges when he erroneously identifies GHB and GBL as steroids. It upsets me that so many reporters remain blissfully ignorant about anabolic steroids and fail to perform even basic fact checking when it comes to basic questions like “what are anabolic steroids?” Why should reporters stick to the facts? Maybe Hammel just assumed that he was selling anabolic steroids since, after all, Vigliatura was a competitive bodybuilder.
Anabolic steroids are already being demonized by the current tidal wave of steroid hysteria permeating the United States. There is no need to false associate steroids to a criminal case involving cocaine and ecstasy, police corruption and threats against a federal prosecutor that has nothing to do with steroids. But anything to further demonize steroids must be the new journalistic standard?
Thanks to reporter Lee Hammel, the Associated Press has picked up the story and syndicated it nationally using Hammel’s inaccurate reporting regarding steroids (”Bodybuilder sentenced on drug charges,” March 25).
Thomas Vigliatura pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute illegal steroids and possession of cocaine and Ecstasy…
The distribution of drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, and GHB has been a different enterprise from the distribution of anabolic steroids. (Although this distinction is starting to disappear as the federal steroid witch hunt threatens to push the entire steroid market completely underground.) The differences in cocaine/ecstasy/GHB distribution and anabolic steroid distribution is highlighted by the former group’s reluctance to testify or “snitch” on co-conspirators and the latter group’s widespread and eager willingness to “rat out” co-conspirators in exchange for leniency (”Bodybuilder’s sentence is bulked up by judge: six months,” July 27, 2007).
[Thomas J. Vigliatura] reiterated his contention that he refused to testify out of fear of reprisal to himself and his family…
“In no way was I trying to attempt to impede justice in any way,” Mr. Vigliatura told the judge before sentencing. “Most of you don’t know what it’s like where I live.”
Mr. Vigliatura’s real concern is his “reputation as a stand-up guy…”
Mr. Vigliatura did not want to be known as “a cooperator, snitch, rat, informant.”
Steroid dealers and distributors have not historically had the same concerns. But the federal war on steroids is close to succeeding at making the underground anabolic steroid market more dangerous than ever before for steroid users and steroid dealers alike.
Tyler Lunn, the third of four defendants behind the underground lab Medline Pharmaceuticals has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids. Matthew Peltz and Walter Corey have previously reached plea agreements with prosecutors. The guilty pleas are the result of Operation Phony Pharm initiated by FBI’s Healthcare Fraud Unit in the District of Connecticut in April 2006. The only defendant who has not pleaded guilty is Edwin Porter. Tyler Lunn’s plea agreement was filed on Monday (”Phoenix man pleads guilty to selling steroids,” March 24)
Tyler Lunn of Phoenix was one of four men charged in Connecticut with buying raw steroid powder from China and selling anabolic steroids through a MySpace.com profile and a Web site.
The 28-year-old faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced in New Haven federal court on June 12.
Matthew Peltz was the first to plead guilty in September 2007; he was in charge of internet marketing for Medline Pharmaceuticals on myspace.com/anabolic-ss and anabolic-superstore.com.
The people running the underground lab “Othala Labs” were arrested in North Carolina last Thursday by officers from the Gastonia Police Department. Christopher K. Gore and Brad Jonathan Dyer were arrested and each released on $150,000 unsecured bond (”Police find thousands of grams of steroids,” March 23).
Christopher K. Gore… faces charges of possessing steroids, manufacturing steroids, possessing steroids with the intent to sell and deliver them, labeling counterfeit steroids, maintaining a residence for keeping steroids, maintaining a vehicle to keep and sell steroids and conspiring to violate state law by distributing anabolic steroids…
Dyer faces charges of possessing steroids, possessing steroids with the intent to sell and deliver them, selling and delivering steroids and conspiring to violate state law by distributing anabolic steroids.
Othala Labs was actually busted last summer (June 2007) when local authorities discovered anabolic steroids in Gore’s residence whose entire perimeter was surrounded by a chain link fence and guarded by three boxer dogs. Shortly afterwards, the primary internet source of Othala Labs was accused of turning “scammer” on the Internet message boards.
Police found more than 700 tablets and almost 3,000 grams of various kinds of steroids in June 2007, according to warrants.
Gore sold Brad Jonathan Dyer, 26, of the 800 block of East Zion Church Road, Shelby, 10 bottles of steroids, according to arrest warrants…
Police found Dyer had more than 200 tablets of two different kinds of anabolic steroids and 22 bottles of three different types of steroids in June 2007, according to arrest warrants. Dyer attempted to sell three types of steroid, according to arrest warrants.
It is unclear why it took 9 months before arrest warrants were issued.
Two of the best-known and most successful internet sources of anabolic steroids have been arrested at a Pattaya seaside resort in Thailand as part of an international sting operation requested by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) via the Mutual Legal and Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between the United States and Thailand. They will be extradited to the United States on “charges of using the Internet to illegally export steroids to the United States” (”Two Britons arrested in Thailand after sting operation: police,” March 21)
Police gave the names of the two detained men as Ashly Vincent Livingston, 45, and Edwin Richard Crawly, 44. They were arrested in a sting operation involving US anti-drug agents, police said.
Anthony Roberts called me to identity Edwin Richard Crawly (aka Ox) as one of the founders of British Dragon and to identify Ashly Vincent Livingston as Redicat. Anthony broke the story on his blog.
Thai authorities have told the media that the two Britons did not do anything illegal in Thailand. Consequently, they face no charges in Thailand.
Pro Bodybuilding Weekly interviewed IFBB Pro bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi today for the first time since his release from jail. Hide Yamagishi was arrested and charged with steroid possession and distribution in December 2007; he was released after 65 days in jail after his attorney had all felony charges dismissed. His travel visa was revoked.
Yamagishi told Dan Solomon and Bob Cicherillo of Pro Bodybuilding Weekly that he is currently working to obtain a visa so he can compete at the 2008 IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships in Tampa, Florida on August 9, 2008 and possibly the 2008 Europa Pro show.
Hide is not angry or bitter and the events that have occurred over the past few months. He continues to be grateful for every opportunity bodybuilding has provided him. He told listeners his relationship with Milos Sarcev is good and he hopes to work with him in the “future forever.” He thanked his fans for their support while he was in jail with special thanks to Silvio Samuel and Mitsuru Okabe.
He continues to take full responsibility for everything that has happened to him and implores fans to learn from his mistakes repeating sentiments recorded a video message last month for his fans upon his initial return to Japan.
A 33-year old German man living in Austria was arrested today entering Hamburg Airport in Germany as part of an investigation into the trade of illegal doping substances such as anabolic steroids. Authorities confiscated significant quantities of Winstrol Depot (stanozolol) and generic Viagra (sildenafil).
Raids on his former apartment, the office of his tax adviser, a Berlin transport company that he used and a Hamburg company led to the seizure of drugs that included 174 kilograms (384 pounds) of a bodybuilding supplement called “Winstrol Depot,” 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) of kamagra, an anti-impotence drug, and other anabolic steroids.
Based on records obtained during the raids, authorities determined that the steroid distribution had been booming for the past through years in the domestic bodybuilding scene.
“Like many people who are involved in drugs, they have to pay for that addiction somehow. It appears he’s stolen from his family for years and years,” Lee said.
According to DA Bob Lee, James Edward Moore, Jr’s steroid addiction was so severe that he had to steal significant amounts of money from his father. The District Attorney has filed misdemeanor charges of grand theft and is preparing to file felony charges for theft and identity theft.
“Although often considered similar to abusers of narcotics and other illicit drugs (e.g., heroin or cocaine), non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users follow carefully planned drug regimens in conjunction with a healthy diet, ancillary drugs and exercise,” said Jack Darkes, a study co-author.
“As opposed to the spontaneous and haphazard approach seen in abusers of psychotropic drugs, everything is strategically planned to maximize benefits and minimize harm.”
