The proprietor of Illusion Labs, a formerly popular Canadian underground steroid lab (UGL), is going to trial in Bridgewater provincial court on January 12-14, 2009 as part of Operation Scott Free which targeted Illusion Labs and its customers. Kevin Wayne Tanner faces various charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Customs Act that including importing, smuggling, possession, exporting, producing and trafficking anabolic steroids (”Trial time shortened in internet steroids case,” December 2).
Mr. Tanner, 40, faces charges under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Customs Act and the Food and Drug Act involving raw hormones, steroids and counteracting drugs he was allegedly importing, producing and selling over the internet.
Authorities are also alleging that his home, a car, an investment account and cash seized are proceeds of his crimes.
Investigators found what they estimated to be $400,000 worth of steroids, raw hormone products, lab equipment and $46,000 cash when they searched Mr. Tanner’s Elm Street home in late January 2007.
They allege he used a series of false names, fake addresses, postal outlets and courier companies to buy raw hormone products from China over the internet, which he then processed into anabolic steroids in a lab set up in a spare bedroom in his home and sold to customers across Canada and the United States.
Authorities found 21 types of steroids and four drugs to counteract the side effects of steroid use during the probe. They say Mr. Tanner promoted the sale of his products, under the name Illusion Laboratories, in internet chat rooms and on message boards.
Kevin Tanner was busted as a result of a 15-month investigation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Bridgewater Police. The investigation originated with the discovery of raw steroid power by CBSA entering Canada from China in April 2005 evenutally resulting in the Nova Scotia steroid bust on January 22, 2007 where an operational steroid lab was discovered in an upstairs bedroom. Operation Scott Free continued to investigate 200 to 300 customers of Illusion Labs in Canada as well as the United States Read more
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. Read more
