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Jacksonville steroid kingpin stockpiled arsenal, sold millions of doses, investigators say
Jacksonville steroid kingpin stockpiled arsenal, sold millions of doses, investigators say
Updated: Nov 11, 2016 - 6:07 PM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 28-year-old personal trainer and father is behind bars awaiting trial after investigators say he was caught running a massive, complex steroid ring out of his Jacksonville home.
Gregory Allen Baker and four others were arrested after a two-year federal investigation that started in 2014 with an anonymous tip, court documents say.
Baker is accused of importing raw materials to manufacture steroids, human growth hormone and other illegal drugs.
He purchased enough raw steroid powder from a supplier in China to produce more than 1.5 million units, which is on top of pills, liquid steroids and HGH imported from overseas, a court order in the case said.
Investigators believe that Baker used his personal training business as a front for the steroid operation, which supplied drugs to bodybuilders and semi-professional athletes under the name “Axio Labs,” the order said.
When the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency started its investigation into Baker, agents immediately noticed that it appeared the man was living well above his means.
“Mr. Baker’s purported employment and daily activities did not account for the lavish lifestyle he lived,” the court order said. “He built a $550,000 home and provided a $134,000 down payment.”
Baker’s postal carrier told investigators that he received packages from China on nearly a daily basis.
When Baker’s home was raided in February, agents reported finding multiple firearms, luxury cars and a $12,500 electric golf cart.
Even after the warrants were served on his home, Baker, who had hired an attorney, continued to import materials to produce steroids, officials said.
In all, Baker purchased $250,000 worth of steroids and steroid materials after the warrants were served, court documents said.
He allegedly used surrogates to send Western Union payments to pay for the steroids and received payments for the drugs through his girlfriend’s PayPal account, investigators said.
The situation with Baker’s steroid business was getting out of hand, the anonymous source told officials.
“The tipster reported (Baker’s) girlfriend, Ashley, is scared he will kill or hurt someone because of the conditions under which the steroids are made … and he threatens to take their child away if she does not do what he says,” the court order said.
The document did not say if the “Ashley” referenced by the tipster was the same as Ashley Hinson, 27, one of Baker’s alleged co-conspirators.
As he was facing numerous serious charges that could result in up to 140 years in federal prison, prosecutors argued Baker was a flight risk and the judge in the case ordered him held without bond.
Hinson; married couple William Peter Wagner, 25, and Heather Marie Wagner, 30; and Elijah Adams, were also arrested in connection with the case and have been released on bond, court documents show.
All five were charged with conspiracy to import controlled substances, conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute human growth hormone, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and international transportation of monetary instruments.
Hinson, Heather Wagner and Baker were also charged with importation of a controlled substance; Baker and William Wagner were also charged with possession with intent to distribute human growth hormone; and Baker was charged with three additional counts of international transportation of monetary instruments.
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http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-steroid-kingpin-stockpiled-arsenal-sold-millions-of-doses-investigators-say/466289445
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Wow. My heart goes out to that man and his family. Once again our federal government is destroying families and people's lives over stupid shit like this. A 2 year investigation and a ton of money wasted on it when they could be putting those funds towards actual criminals who hurt people or import dangerous and addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin.
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Post Thanks / Like - 2 Thanks, 4 Likes, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
JohnDoe
Wow. My heart goes out to that man and his family. Once again our federal government is destroying families and people's lives over stupid shit like this. A 2 year investigation and a ton of money wasted on it when they could be putting those funds towards actual criminals who hurt people or import dangerous and addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin.
Exactly man. The heroin and fentanyl epidemic is much much much much much more serious.
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Post Thanks / Like - 1 Thanks, 2 Likes, 0 Dislikes
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Continued to purchase $250'000 worth after warrants were served?
Figured he'd lay low for a while...
Everything written or implied above represents the official view of a guerilla ontologist
EACH AND EVERY DAY STAND GUARD AT THE DOOR OF YOUR MIND
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Post Thanks / Like - 0 Thanks, 3 Likes, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
Kvasir
Continued to purchase $250'000 worth after warrants were served?
Figured he'd lay low for a while...
Who knows...coulda been sending them to a different residence and thought he was safe. Or it could have been shipments already on their way...
Either way...we all know this is just fucking ridiculous. They treat it as if steroids were so god damn bad...2 year investigation...as if this guy was a fuckin serial rapist or some shit. Cmon get the fuck outta here....
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I think it was the Electric Golf Cart that really did him in!!!!!!!
This game isn't for everyone, being big and bloated doesn't make you the man, nor does being 110lbs ripped. If you are not competing, find a happy medium. I was thin once, learned all there was to learn about steroids and got pretty big. Then learned how to eat and I got really huge.
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Originally Posted by
bulk_cut
I think it was the Electric Golf Cart that really did him in!!!!!!!
How dare he own one of those....those are highly illegal to possess lol
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It's all due to the fact that they can't put their tax on Anabolics. That's why they remain illegal. I've never seen an individual rob a liquor store to buy steroids.
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You're dead on Jay the government gives 2 shits about people's health if they can't get their hands on the money you're making then it's a crime.
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