Feds bust steroid ring that hawked drug on bodybuilding website, was paid in Bitcoin

[The Admin]

Feds bust steroid ring that hawked drug on bodybuilding website, was paid in Bitcoin
Posted Feb 19, 2020 at 8:59 PM

Three of the defendants are residents of North Attleboro, and one is from Providence.

PROVIDENCE ― Federal authorities on Wednesday charged four people with operating an illegal steroid trafficking ring out of North Attleboro that advertised on a bodybuilding website and offering 20% discounts to customers paying with the difficult-to-trace Bitcoin electronic currency.

The four ― three residents of North Attleboro and one from Providence ― made initial appearances in U.S. District Court on Wednesday afternoon and were release on unsecured bonds, by Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the leader of the ring was David Esser, 46, of 9 Fisher St., Apt. 3, North Attleboro.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan, who presented the case in court, the following were also involved, mainly packaging steroids for shipping and taking them to the post office:

Esser’s ex-wife, Alison Shephard, 41, with a last known address of 41 Eddy St., North Attleboro;

Shephard’s fiancé, James McLaughlin, 34, also with a last known address of 41 Eddy St.;

and Mason Nieves, 27, with a last known address of 164 Parade St., Apt. 1, Providence.

Sullivan said Nieves also played a role in the financial operations of the ring, with money passing through his bank account before going into Esser’s.

The members of the ring face charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute and conspiracy to import controlled substances; manufacturing and distributing controlled substances; importation of controlled substances into the United States; trafficking in counterfeit goods and services; smuggling goods into the United States; wire fraud; and money laundering.

Shephard, McLaughlin and Nieves were released on $10,000 unsecured bond, meaning they will forfeit that amount if they fail to appear in court for proceedings.

Esser was released on $50,000 unsecured bond and will have to wear a GPS monitoring bracelet.

Sullivan told Judge Almond that the government was not sure what conditions should be set for Esser’s release because investigators suspect he was not forthcoming when filling out court paperwork describing his finances.

“We know that he has money being transferred to him in Bitcoin,” Sullivan told the judge. “We know he has a Bitcoin account that he didn’t disclose.”

Almond said that he will review the terms of release when Esser returns to court March 4 to review whether he qualifies for a court-appointed lawyer.

Source: https://www.providencejournal.com/ne...aid-in-bitcoin

[custom]

Wow

[Dexitrim]

Isn't this Goldline?

https://turnto10.com/news/local/four...from-hong-kong

[malfeasance]

Court documents reveal that Esser was allegedly well aware he was being investigated following a 2015 visit from agents with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
"One of the most troubling aspects is that he was visited by investigating agents in 2015," Magistrate Almond said during Esser's arraignment, yet Esser allegedly continued to illegally sell and distribute the drugs for another five years.
https://turnto10.com/news/local/four...from-hong-kong


Well, that's not very smart or clever, is it?

[custom]

Isn't this Goldline?

https://turnto10.com/news/local/four...from-hong-kong

Yeah and it looks like their forum has already been removed

[malfeasance]

Isn't this Goldline?

https://turnto10.com/news/local/four...from-hong-kong

What makes you say that?

[Multislacking]

What makes you say that?

http://www.anabolicsteroidforums.com/threads/99035-Bust

Article here states it was.

[malfeasance]

http://www.anabolicsteroidforums.com/threads/99035-Bust

Article here states it was.

Agent went on Brotherhood of Pain, then ordered with Bitcoin.

[custom]

What makes you say that?

Because I don't see them as a sponsor here. Maybe you thought I was referring to BOP.

[The Admin]

watch video

[Jswole220]

So he knew he was being watched since 2015 and continued to sell.... wow. Just from seeing how he spoke and operated I would bet everything he is going to sing like a fucking song bird and roll on any and everyone he can.

[CoachCabo]

That sucks. I have some primo raws and I was going to send him some low Rez pics so he could tell me the quality.

I heard that judge might give him 20% off and call it “underdosed primo sentencing”. But the records will show full sentence.

[Jayd85]

So he knew he was being watched since 2015 and continued to sell.... wow. Just from seeing how he spoke and operated I would bet everything he is going to sing like a fucking song bird and roll on any and everyone he can.

Won’t be me. I have a policy against buying underdosed gear from dickheads.

[suraonyx23]

Court documents reveal that Esser was allegedly well aware he was being investigated following a 2015 visit from agents with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).
"One of the most troubling aspects is that he was visited by investigating agents in 2015," Magistrate Almond said during Esser's arraignment, yet Esser allegedly continued to illegally sell and distribute the drugs for another five years.
https://turnto10.com/news/local/four...from-hong-kong


Well, that's not very smart or clever, is it?

See post below

So he knew he was being watched since 2015 and continued to sell.... wow. Just from seeing how he spoke and operated I would bet everything he is going to sing like a fucking song bird and roll on any and everyone he can.

This is most likely stemming from Bushmaster. If anyone remembers him. I maybe wrong but I don’t think so from what I know.

[wrekem]

So he knew he was being watched since 2015 and continued to sell.... wow. Just from seeing how he spoke and operated I would bet everything he is going to sing like a fucking song bird and roll on any and everyone he can.

Sing on who? Everyone involved with him got wrapped up with him. Now if you remember the PPL resellers in the US that got busted, they have people to sing about. Theyre at the bottom of the totem pole. GL whole shibang went out