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04-19-2014, 12:20 PM
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April 18, 2014
Major DEA steroid bust in Phoenix
PHOENIX - An underground steroid distribution ring gets busted after a 15-month long, "Operation Bad Mussels," conducted by the DEA.
The bust left eight indicted and 11 under federal search warrants, making it one of the largest steroid enforcement actions in Arizona.
Of the 11 individuals at large, five are from Surprise, AZ, three from Omaha, NE, two from Melbourne, FL and one from Franklin, TN.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies issued the arrests and search warrants to the suspected members of the steroid ring on April 17 and conducted two consent searches of storage facilities in Surprise, AZ.
The raids turned up 110 pounds of anabolic steroids, several packages of raw powder from China, hundreds of filled vials of anabolic steroids and a variety of size capsules along with their encapsulating machines.
The DEA also seized falsified pharmaceutical labels, computers and more than $150,000.
The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad (TDS) initiated their investigation of Blaine Radke of Surprise, Ariz., back in January 2013.
The DEA has confirmed that Radke, owner of Desired Physiques Center in Surprise, supplied anabolic steroids to hundreds of customers throughout the country using bodybuilding internet websites.
Agents have identified other members in the distribution ring, collected receipts of the Chinese steroid materials and investigated wire transfers to pinpoint the consumer base of Radke's illegal enterprise.
With an "underground" e-mail address, Radke instructed users to send cash concealed in magazines and birthday cards as payment for their orders.
The indicted are as follows: Blaine Radke otherwise known as Ronnie Coleman, 39, and Ismael Gonzales otherwise known as Mike Gonzales, 44, of Surprise, AZ, Joshua Ryan Leno, 33, of Omaha NE, Duane Lee McGill, 52, of Charlotte, Gregory Alexander Chambers, 45 of Franklin, TN, Chad Vincent Desjarlais, 41, of Melbourne FL, Kanisha Stewart, 24, of Surprise AZ, and Dena Jo Olsen, 43, also of Surprise, AZ.
Blaine Radke and Gregory Chambers were arrested on April 17 and the others were charged and summoned to appear in federal court at a later date.
http://www.kvoa.com/news/major-dea-steroid-bust-in-phoenix/
8 indicted in underground steroid distribution ring
Posted on April 18, 2014 at 8:22 PM
Updated yesterday at 9:47 PM
PHOENIX -- Eight people, including four Arizona residents, have been indicted following a 15-month investigation into an underground anabolic steroid distribution ring, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced Friday.
The operation is one of the largest steroid enforcement actions in Arizona, according to the DEA. It took place in conjunction with enforcement operations in various other states.
Authorities obtained five federal search warrants in Surprise, Ariz., three in Omaha, Neb., two in Melbourne, Fla., and one in Franklin, Tenn.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies conducted simultaneous arrest and search warrants on suspected members of the ring and their residences Thursday in the various states. A search warrant was also served on a fitness center in Surprise.
The DEA also conducted consent searches on two Surprise storage facilities.
During the raids, agents reportedly seized more than 110 pounds of anabolic steroids, multiple packages of raw powder from China, hundreds of vials filled with anabolic steroids, capsules of various sizes, encapsulating machines, authentic-looking pharmaceutical labels, computers, and more than $150,000.
A shotgun, a handgun, various bank accounts, nine vehicles and a residence were also seized.
In January 2013, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad initiated the investigation into a possible underground pharmaceutical operation led by Surprise resident Blaine Jared Radke, who allegedly supplied anabolic steroids to hundreds of customers throughout the country.
Radke, the 39-year-old owner of Desired Physiques Fitness Center in Surprise, reportedly used forums and blogs on steroid bodybuilding websites to conduct the illegal enterprise.
Gym members who spoke to 3TV said they never suspected any illegal steroid activity in the gym or involving the owner.
"I'm shocked," said a member who declined to be identified. "The staff is great. Blaine is a great guy. I think he'll have his day in court. It will be interesting to see what gets said."
Using his "underground" email address, Radke allegedly instructed customers to conceal payment for steroid orders in magazines and birthday cards and send them to post office boxes controlled by organization members.
On April 6, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a 10-count indictment against Radke, also known as Ronnie Coleman, and seven other alleged members of the ring.
Other Surprise residents indicted are 44-year-old Ismael Gonzalez, also known as Mike Gonzalez, 24-year-old Kanisha Nichelle Stewart and 43-year-old Dena Jo Olsen.
Also charged in the indictment are 33-year-old Joshua Ryan Leno, of Omaha, Neb.; 52-year-old Duane Lee McGill, of Charlotte, Mich.; 45-year-old Gregory Alexander Chambers, of Franklin, Tenn. and 41-year-old Chad Vincent Desjarlais, of Melbourne, Fla.
Radke, the alleged ringleader, and Chambers were arrested Thursday. The others were charged and summoned to appear in federal court at a later date.
The indictment charges are conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to launder money instruments, and forfeiture allegations.
"This is a dangerous practice, especially for young people," said Special Agent Ramona Sanchez, spokeswoman for the DEA Phoenix Division. "The danger is only compounded when drug rings manufacture steroids in unsanitary, unsterilized underground labs."
The investigation was led by the DEA's Tactical Diversion Squad with assistance from the United States Postal Inspector's Service; Internal Revenue Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Mesa, Surprise and Franklin police departments; National Drug Intelligence Center Document and Media Exploitation; and the DEA's Atlanta, St. Louis and Miami field divisions.
April 18, 2014
Major DEA steroid bust in Phoenix
PHOENIX - An underground steroid distribution ring gets busted after a 15-month long, "Operation Bad Mussels," conducted by the DEA.
The bust left eight indicted and 11 under federal search warrants, making it one of the largest steroid enforcement actions in Arizona.
Of the 11 individuals at large, five are from Surprise, AZ, three from Omaha, NE, two from Melbourne, FL and one from Franklin, TN.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies issued the arrests and search warrants to the suspected members of the steroid ring on April 17 and conducted two consent searches of storage facilities in Surprise, AZ.
The raids turned up 110 pounds of anabolic steroids, several packages of raw powder from China, hundreds of filled vials of anabolic steroids and a variety of size capsules along with their encapsulating machines.
The DEA also seized falsified pharmaceutical labels, computers and more than $150,000.
The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad (TDS) initiated their investigation of Blaine Radke of Surprise, Ariz., back in January 2013.
The DEA has confirmed that Radke, owner of Desired Physiques Center in Surprise, supplied anabolic steroids to hundreds of customers throughout the country using bodybuilding internet websites.
Agents have identified other members in the distribution ring, collected receipts of the Chinese steroid materials and investigated wire transfers to pinpoint the consumer base of Radke's illegal enterprise.
With an "underground" e-mail address, Radke instructed users to send cash concealed in magazines and birthday cards as payment for their orders.
The indicted are as follows: Blaine Radke otherwise known as Ronnie Coleman, 39, and Ismael Gonzales otherwise known as Mike Gonzales, 44, of Surprise, AZ, Joshua Ryan Leno, 33, of Omaha NE, Duane Lee McGill, 52, of Charlotte, Gregory Alexander Chambers, 45 of Franklin, TN, Chad Vincent Desjarlais, 41, of Melbourne FL, Kanisha Stewart, 24, of Surprise AZ, and Dena Jo Olsen, 43, also of Surprise, AZ.
Blaine Radke and Gregory Chambers were arrested on April 17 and the others were charged and summoned to appear in federal court at a later date.
http://www.kvoa.com/news/major-dea-steroid-bust-in-phoenix/
8 indicted in underground steroid distribution ring
Posted on April 18, 2014 at 8:22 PM
Updated yesterday at 9:47 PM
PHOENIX -- Eight people, including four Arizona residents, have been indicted following a 15-month investigation into an underground anabolic steroid distribution ring, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced Friday.
The operation is one of the largest steroid enforcement actions in Arizona, according to the DEA. It took place in conjunction with enforcement operations in various other states.
Authorities obtained five federal search warrants in Surprise, Ariz., three in Omaha, Neb., two in Melbourne, Fla., and one in Franklin, Tenn.
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies conducted simultaneous arrest and search warrants on suspected members of the ring and their residences Thursday in the various states. A search warrant was also served on a fitness center in Surprise.
The DEA also conducted consent searches on two Surprise storage facilities.
During the raids, agents reportedly seized more than 110 pounds of anabolic steroids, multiple packages of raw powder from China, hundreds of vials filled with anabolic steroids, capsules of various sizes, encapsulating machines, authentic-looking pharmaceutical labels, computers, and more than $150,000.
A shotgun, a handgun, various bank accounts, nine vehicles and a residence were also seized.
In January 2013, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad initiated the investigation into a possible underground pharmaceutical operation led by Surprise resident Blaine Jared Radke, who allegedly supplied anabolic steroids to hundreds of customers throughout the country.
Radke, the 39-year-old owner of Desired Physiques Fitness Center in Surprise, reportedly used forums and blogs on steroid bodybuilding websites to conduct the illegal enterprise.
Gym members who spoke to 3TV said they never suspected any illegal steroid activity in the gym or involving the owner.
"I'm shocked," said a member who declined to be identified. "The staff is great. Blaine is a great guy. I think he'll have his day in court. It will be interesting to see what gets said."
Using his "underground" email address, Radke allegedly instructed customers to conceal payment for steroid orders in magazines and birthday cards and send them to post office boxes controlled by organization members.
On April 6, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a 10-count indictment against Radke, also known as Ronnie Coleman, and seven other alleged members of the ring.
Other Surprise residents indicted are 44-year-old Ismael Gonzalez, also known as Mike Gonzalez, 24-year-old Kanisha Nichelle Stewart and 43-year-old Dena Jo Olsen.
Also charged in the indictment are 33-year-old Joshua Ryan Leno, of Omaha, Neb.; 52-year-old Duane Lee McGill, of Charlotte, Mich.; 45-year-old Gregory Alexander Chambers, of Franklin, Tenn. and 41-year-old Chad Vincent Desjarlais, of Melbourne, Fla.
Radke, the alleged ringleader, and Chambers were arrested Thursday. The others were charged and summoned to appear in federal court at a later date.
The indictment charges are conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to launder money instruments, and forfeiture allegations.
"This is a dangerous practice, especially for young people," said Special Agent Ramona Sanchez, spokeswoman for the DEA Phoenix Division. "The danger is only compounded when drug rings manufacture steroids in unsanitary, unsterilized underground labs."
The investigation was led by the DEA's Tactical Diversion Squad with assistance from the United States Postal Inspector's Service; Internal Revenue Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Mesa, Surprise and Franklin police departments; National Drug Intelligence Center Document and Media Exploitation; and the DEA's Atlanta, St. Louis and Miami field divisions.