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Pelham man indicted in Internet-based steroid ring
PELHAM — A Pelham man is facing federal charges that he, along with three others, conspired to operate an online anabolic steroid ring for years, netting more than $2 million.
Michael G. Peters, 27, was arrested in Boston Thursday and faces nine federal charges, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit debit card fraud, three counts of debit card fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
Peters' co-conspirators face the same charges. Aaron Vincent Schweidler, 31, and Nicole R. Lyne, 26, of North Carolina were arrested Thursday; Samuel C. Miller IV of Maryland remains a fugitive. A federal grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday.
Prosecutors allege the ring began in December 2011. The defendants allegedly operated an internet-based company called "Power Trip," selling steroids they manufactured themselves to customers in the United States, including athletes and minors.
Lyne and Schweidler sent many of the shipments through a post office in Kansas City, Mo., near their former home, according to the indictments. Some of the packages listed a return address for "Hype Electronics and Game Super Store," but contained vials of steroids marked with the Power Trip labels.
The defendants allegedly used stolen identities — everything from names to Social Security numbers to birth dates — that were either purchased or stolen in order to obtain debit cards like Green Dot MoneyPak, MyVanilla, ReloadIT and more. They would require customers to send payment to the cards, in order to conceal and disguise the illegal proceeds.
Prosecutors allege the group transferred more than $188,000 to China via MoneyGram and Western Union to buy raw materials and other supplies to manufacture the steroids.
The group also faces a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government any property derived from the illegal profits, including a money judgement of at least $2.25 million.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
PELHAM — A Pelham man is facing federal charges that he, along with three others, conspired to operate an online anabolic steroid ring for years, netting more than $2 million.
Michael G. Peters, 27, was arrested in Boston Thursday and faces nine federal charges, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit debit card fraud, three counts of debit card fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft.
Peters' co-conspirators face the same charges. Aaron Vincent Schweidler, 31, and Nicole R. Lyne, 26, of North Carolina were arrested Thursday; Samuel C. Miller IV of Maryland remains a fugitive. A federal grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday.
Prosecutors allege the ring began in December 2011. The defendants allegedly operated an internet-based company called "Power Trip," selling steroids they manufactured themselves to customers in the United States, including athletes and minors.
Lyne and Schweidler sent many of the shipments through a post office in Kansas City, Mo., near their former home, according to the indictments. Some of the packages listed a return address for "Hype Electronics and Game Super Store," but contained vials of steroids marked with the Power Trip labels.
The defendants allegedly used stolen identities — everything from names to Social Security numbers to birth dates — that were either purchased or stolen in order to obtain debit cards like Green Dot MoneyPak, MyVanilla, ReloadIT and more. They would require customers to send payment to the cards, in order to conceal and disguise the illegal proceeds.
Prosecutors allege the group transferred more than $188,000 to China via MoneyGram and Western Union to buy raw materials and other supplies to manufacture the steroids.
The group also faces a forfeiture allegation, which would require the defendants to forfeit to the government any property derived from the illegal profits, including a money judgement of at least $2.25 million.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
