Showing posts with label Operation Roid Runner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Operation Roid Runner. Show all posts
Future bodybuilding drug ACE-031 coming soon thanks to FDA Orphan Designation.
ACE-031 is an investigational protein therapeutic that builds muscle and increases strength by inhibiting signaling through a cell surface receptor called activin receptor type IIB (ActRIIB). ACE-031 is a recombinant fusion protein that is produced by joining a portion of the human ActRIIB receptor to a portion of a human antibody. This creates a freely circulating, decoy version of ActRIIB which removes proteins, such as GDF-8 (myostatin), that limit the growth and regeneration of muscle. Animal studies with ACE-031 suggest that blocking signaling through ActRIIB leads to increased muscle mass and improved physical function in a range of animal models of muscle disease, including models of muscular dystrophy. ACE-031 is currently being studied in a phase 2 clinical trial of patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) who are also receiving corticosteroid therapy.
Operation Roid Runner phase 2 arrests announced.
"Operation Roid Runner" started in 2009 and Pa. officials are announcing more arrests today.
Narcotics agents from the Attorney General's Office have filed criminal charges against six suspects connected to the use and distribution of steroids in the Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton County areas. These charges are a result of the second phase of an ongoing steroid manufacturing and trafficking investigation, known as Operation Roid Runner. The first phase of the investigation, dubbed "Operation Roid Runner" when it was first announced in November, focused on a group allegedly responsible for bringing more than $170,000 worth of steroids from China and Mexico into Pennsylvania. Ten people were arrested in connection with "Operation Roid Runner" in November.
"Following those initial arrests, our agents continued to develop the evidence to identify more individuals who were allegedly obtaining steroids and distributing them to others for resale and personal use," Corbett said. A grand jury heard testimony and saw evidence, leading to today's charges.
Corbett said that both Frank Peters, of Ambler, and Brian Chamberlain, of West Chester, allegedly obtained steroids for use and resale in Pennsylvania by placing orders on the internet to various individuals in China, Hungary and Pakistan. The international suppliers were paid via wire transfers.
According to the grand jury, Peters sent nine wire transfers overseas, totaling $8,500, between February 2009 to February 2010. Chamberlain sent 13 wire transfers overseas over a one-year period, totaling almost $10,000.
Corbett said that Peters' girlfriend, Angela Girondo ,of Ambler, allegedly worked with Peters to distribute steroids in Chester County, delivering up to 19 bottles at a time.
The investigation also revealed that Edward Moyzan, of Trexlertown, was distributing steroids in Lehigh County and that Craig Johnson, of Allentown, allegedly brokered some of Moyzan's sales for him.
Corbett said that Moyzan allegedly obtained steroids from Brian Potance, of Easton. Moyzan allegedly bought five to 10 bottles at a time, many times meeting at a restaurant in Bethlehem to make the transactions.
Corbett noted that as part of the second phase of the investigation, agents seized nearly 300 bottles of steroids and more than 2,300 pills containing steroids.
The defendants will be preliminarily arraigned before Lehigh County Magisterial District Judge Donna Butler and will be prosecuted in Lehigh County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Heather Adams of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a full list of the defendants and the charges against them:
Craig Johnson, 39, 3102 Lehigh St., Allentown, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy.
Edward Moyzan, 37, 207 Turning Leaf, Trexlertown, is charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Brian Potance, 26, 606 Berks St., Easton, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. He is a former corrections officer at Northampton County Prison.
Brian Chamberlain, 35, 49 Sheffield Lane, West Chester, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Frank Peters, 34, 97 Hampstead Drive, Ambler, is charged with six counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity.
Angela Girondo, 50, 97 Hampstead Drive, Ambler, is charged with four counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Corbett thanked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations for their assistance in the investigation. Corbett noted that the investigation is ongoing.
Narcotics agents from the Attorney General's Office have filed criminal charges against six suspects connected to the use and distribution of steroids in the Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton County areas. These charges are a result of the second phase of an ongoing steroid manufacturing and trafficking investigation, known as Operation Roid Runner. The first phase of the investigation, dubbed "Operation Roid Runner" when it was first announced in November, focused on a group allegedly responsible for bringing more than $170,000 worth of steroids from China and Mexico into Pennsylvania. Ten people were arrested in connection with "Operation Roid Runner" in November.
"Following those initial arrests, our agents continued to develop the evidence to identify more individuals who were allegedly obtaining steroids and distributing them to others for resale and personal use," Corbett said. A grand jury heard testimony and saw evidence, leading to today's charges.
Corbett said that both Frank Peters, of Ambler, and Brian Chamberlain, of West Chester, allegedly obtained steroids for use and resale in Pennsylvania by placing orders on the internet to various individuals in China, Hungary and Pakistan. The international suppliers were paid via wire transfers.
According to the grand jury, Peters sent nine wire transfers overseas, totaling $8,500, between February 2009 to February 2010. Chamberlain sent 13 wire transfers overseas over a one-year period, totaling almost $10,000.
Corbett said that Peters' girlfriend, Angela Girondo ,of Ambler, allegedly worked with Peters to distribute steroids in Chester County, delivering up to 19 bottles at a time.
The investigation also revealed that Edward Moyzan, of Trexlertown, was distributing steroids in Lehigh County and that Craig Johnson, of Allentown, allegedly brokered some of Moyzan's sales for him.
Corbett said that Moyzan allegedly obtained steroids from Brian Potance, of Easton. Moyzan allegedly bought five to 10 bottles at a time, many times meeting at a restaurant in Bethlehem to make the transactions.
Corbett noted that as part of the second phase of the investigation, agents seized nearly 300 bottles of steroids and more than 2,300 pills containing steroids.
The defendants will be preliminarily arraigned before Lehigh County Magisterial District Judge Donna Butler and will be prosecuted in Lehigh County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Heather Adams of the Attorney General's Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a full list of the defendants and the charges against them:
Craig Johnson, 39, 3102 Lehigh St., Allentown, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy.
Edward Moyzan, 37, 207 Turning Leaf, Trexlertown, is charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Brian Potance, 26, 606 Berks St., Easton, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. He is a former corrections officer at Northampton County Prison.
Brian Chamberlain, 35, 49 Sheffield Lane, West Chester, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Frank Peters, 34, 97 Hampstead Drive, Ambler, is charged with six counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity.
Angela Girondo, 50, 97 Hampstead Drive, Ambler, is charged with four counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Corbett thanked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations for their assistance in the investigation. Corbett noted that the investigation is ongoing.
George Koufalis from Operation Roid Runner's YouTube Channel.
Some interesting comments on Operation Roid Runner.
"those charges are from 2 years ago asshole!"
"sorry for the name calling but im mad because no one knows that i was in trouble with this a while back it just came out today!"
"well do you see any of my 20 good friends i sold roids to on the news with me? um no...."
"those charges are from 2 years ago asshole!"
"sorry for the name calling but im mad because no one knows that i was in trouble with this a while back it just came out today!"
"well do you see any of my 20 good friends i sold roids to on the news with me? um no...."
Background info on Operation Roid Runner.
George Koufalis injected himself with $8,000 to $20,000 worth of steroids a year to stay in top condition for bodybuilding competitions, authorities said. Koufalis' habit led him to start selling the drugs as well, providing a link for investigators between a steroid ring in Dauphin and Cumberland counties, and one here in the Lehigh Valley, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.
Police allege the breakup of a ring near Harrisburg led them to Koufalis, who in turn led them to Marcus Lazaro, Chad Gillespie and John Sassaman. Lazaro then led police to Christopher Niemczyk, authorities said. All of the men told police and a grand jury they used the drugs and turned to selling them to fuel both their use and pay for various bodybuilding competitions.
They were each released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
Lazaro and Gillespie went as far as purchasing bulk quantities of steroid powder from China, then mixing the powder with oils and alcohol to form liquids that users injected into their muscles, state prosecutors said. They allegedly branded the resulting product "Pro Lab."
In 2008, state agents raided Koufalis' home in Lower Macungie Township after he allegedly sold steroids to an informant from Harrisburg. Agents seized $12,459 cash, four guns, 900 pills and assorted paraphernalia.
Koufalis turned informant and set up buys with his suppliers: Sassaman, Gillespie and Lazaro. At the time of the raid, Koufalis owed Lazaro $6,700 for steroids.
Agents arranged for Koufalis to buy numerous times from his suppliers in the parking lot of the Gold's Gym at South Mall on Lehigh Street in Allentown and elsewhere, such as a restaurant on Lehigh Street.
Koufalis testified, according to court papers, that Sassaman gave him $5,000 in steroids in the Dieruff High School parking lot May 17, 2008 -- the date of a bodybuilding competition held at the school.
Agents raided Lazaro's Freemansburg home Jan. 13 and seized 9 pounds of liquid and powder steroids, $8,894 cash, a 9mm handgun, syringes, vials, oils and other assorted paraphernalia.
Lazaro started using steroids in college, but he and Gillespie had a hard time locating drugs at some point and turned to the Internet as a source. Gillespie is said to have marketed the steroids and Lazaro ordered the bulk materials.
The orders were paid via Western Union wire transfers in amounts small enough to not require a transaction report, usually less than $3,000.
Lazaro also bought steroids from another local distributor, Niemczyk, in a number of deals arranged in Northampton County in conjunction with authorities. Niemczyk sold quantities of drugs to Lazaro in various parking lots and at Niemczyk's Williams Township home.
In an April 10 raid of Niemczyk's house, police said they seized steroids, ecstasy, ketamine (a potent anesthetic), paraphernalia and $6,543 cash.
Police allege the breakup of a ring near Harrisburg led them to Koufalis, who in turn led them to Marcus Lazaro, Chad Gillespie and John Sassaman. Lazaro then led police to Christopher Niemczyk, authorities said. All of the men told police and a grand jury they used the drugs and turned to selling them to fuel both their use and pay for various bodybuilding competitions.
They were each released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
Lazaro and Gillespie went as far as purchasing bulk quantities of steroid powder from China, then mixing the powder with oils and alcohol to form liquids that users injected into their muscles, state prosecutors said. They allegedly branded the resulting product "Pro Lab."
In 2008, state agents raided Koufalis' home in Lower Macungie Township after he allegedly sold steroids to an informant from Harrisburg. Agents seized $12,459 cash, four guns, 900 pills and assorted paraphernalia.
Koufalis turned informant and set up buys with his suppliers: Sassaman, Gillespie and Lazaro. At the time of the raid, Koufalis owed Lazaro $6,700 for steroids.
Agents arranged for Koufalis to buy numerous times from his suppliers in the parking lot of the Gold's Gym at South Mall on Lehigh Street in Allentown and elsewhere, such as a restaurant on Lehigh Street.
Koufalis testified, according to court papers, that Sassaman gave him $5,000 in steroids in the Dieruff High School parking lot May 17, 2008 -- the date of a bodybuilding competition held at the school.
Agents raided Lazaro's Freemansburg home Jan. 13 and seized 9 pounds of liquid and powder steroids, $8,894 cash, a 9mm handgun, syringes, vials, oils and other assorted paraphernalia.
Lazaro started using steroids in college, but he and Gillespie had a hard time locating drugs at some point and turned to the Internet as a source. Gillespie is said to have marketed the steroids and Lazaro ordered the bulk materials.
The orders were paid via Western Union wire transfers in amounts small enough to not require a transaction report, usually less than $3,000.
Lazaro also bought steroids from another local distributor, Niemczyk, in a number of deals arranged in Northampton County in conjunction with authorities. Niemczyk sold quantities of drugs to Lazaro in various parking lots and at Niemczyk's Williams Township home.
In an April 10 raid of Niemczyk's house, police said they seized steroids, ecstasy, ketamine (a potent anesthetic), paraphernalia and $6,543 cash.
More Operation Roid Runner related stories.
A former police officer who has done time for steroid-related crimes could be headed back to prison after his arrest Tuesday by the state attorney general's office on new charges.
Eric Garonzik, 39, former co-owner of a West Shore gym, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the drug counts filed against him in Dauphin County.
Nine other people, including Garonzik's ex-wife, also were charged. Garonzik's arrest came after a two-year probe by narcotics agents with the attorney general's office dubbed "Operation Roid Runner."
Eric Garonzik, 39, former co-owner of a West Shore gym, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the drug counts filed against him in Dauphin County.
Nine other people, including Garonzik's ex-wife, also were charged. Garonzik's arrest came after a two-year probe by narcotics agents with the attorney general's office dubbed "Operation Roid Runner."
Operation Roid Runner news video.
News Video "Steroid Ring Busted" from WGAL8.
Sadly my connection is soo slow I can't even watch it. The stills from it show quite a large amount of product.
Sadly my connection is soo slow I can't even watch it. The stills from it show quite a large amount of product.
Press release about Operation Roid Runner.
Most of the text from the press release can be found in the post below this one.
Operation Roid Runner bust update ( UGL appears to be Pro Lab)
Corbett announced the arrests of the following people at a news conference this morning in Lemoyne, Pa.:
He said the Garonziks, Lazaro and Gillespie obtained steroids by placing Internet orders to people in China and Mexico and paying for the via wire transfer. A grand jury investigation determined $170,000 was sent overseas between January 2004 and this year. The senders allegedly used fictitious names and structured the wire payments so they would always be less than $1,000.
Lazaro researched how to turn powder steroids into those that could be injected, and he and Gillespie started manufacturing the drugs at Lazaro’s home and branded them “Pro Lab,” Corbett says. Sassaman and Koufalis, both bodybuilders, allegedly obtained “Pro Lab” steroids from Lazaro and Gillespie and sold them to others to pay for the expense of bodybuilding competitions.
When officials searched Lazaro’s home, they allegedly seized more than nine pounds of bulk steroids, numerous syringes, a 9mm firearm and various items, such as filters, oils and alcohols used to manufacture steroids. During the course of the entire investigation, agents seized more than 700 bottles of steroids, 1,337 pills containing steroids, nine pounds of bulk steroids, $28,000 and four other firearms. The investigation is ongoing.
- Christopher Niemczyk, 31, 1013 Old Course Lane, Williams Township, is charged with four counts of delivery of steroids, one count of possession with intent to deliver steroids, one count of possession with intent to deliver ecstasy, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of misbranding Ketamine and one count of criminal conspiracy.
- Marcus Lazaro, 29, 123 Somerset St., Freemansburg, is charged with three counts of delivery of steroids, two counts of possession with intent to deliver steroids, two counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of dealing in the proceeds of an unlawful activity, one count of manufacturing steroids and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
- John Sassaman, 51, 1803 Stratford Court, Salisbury Township, is charged with four counts of delivery of steroids and one count of criminal conspiracy.
- Chad Gillespie, 33, 740 Fourth St., Catasauqua, is charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of possession with intent to deliver steroids, one count of manufacturing steroids and one count of dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity.
- George Koufalis, 34, 2158 Woodridge Drive, Lower Macungie Township, is charged with two counts of delivery of steroids, one count of possession with intent to deliver steroids, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of criminal conspiracy.
- Robert Greynolds, 28, of Middletown, Pa., is charged with nine counts of delivery of steroids, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of carrying a firearm without a license, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
- Joel France, 42, of Harrisburg, is charged with three counts of delivery of steroids, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of criminal use of a communication facility.
- Christopher Levan, 36, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., is charged with one count of delivery of steroids and one count of criminal conspiracy.
- Stacy Garonzik, 38, of Shiremanstown, Pa., is charged with one count of delivery of steroids, one count of possession with intent to deliver steroids, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and one count of criminal conspiracy.
- Eric Garonzik, 39, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., is charged with one count of delivery of steroids, one count of possession with intent to deliver steroids, one count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and one count of criminal conspiracy.
“Like any illegal drug, steroids come with negative and dangerous physical effects,” Corbett says in a news release. “We need to do everything we can to make sure that the public, especially young men, are aware of the dangers of using steroids, and we need to take those who distribute this poison off our streets.”
Corbett said the Garonziks injected clients with steroids in the office of their gym, Kinetics, which is now closed. Corbett said many of the steroid deliveries in the Harrisburg area took place near Gold’s Gym in Swatara Township.
He said the Garonziks, Lazaro and Gillespie obtained steroids by placing Internet orders to people in China and Mexico and paying for the via wire transfer. A grand jury investigation determined $170,000 was sent overseas between January 2004 and this year. The senders allegedly used fictitious names and structured the wire payments so they would always be less than $1,000.
Lazaro researched how to turn powder steroids into those that could be injected, and he and Gillespie started manufacturing the drugs at Lazaro’s home and branded them “Pro Lab,” Corbett says. Sassaman and Koufalis, both bodybuilders, allegedly obtained “Pro Lab” steroids from Lazaro and Gillespie and sold them to others to pay for the expense of bodybuilding competitions.
When officials searched Lazaro’s home, they allegedly seized more than nine pounds of bulk steroids, numerous syringes, a 9mm firearm and various items, such as filters, oils and alcohols used to manufacture steroids. During the course of the entire investigation, agents seized more than 700 bottles of steroids, 1,337 pills containing steroids, nine pounds of bulk steroids, $28,000 and four other firearms. The investigation is ongoing.
Operation Roid Runner targets UGLs in Pennsylvania.
Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with a steroid distribution and manufacturing scheme in four Pennsylvania counties, including Lehigh and Northampton.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett will release the details on his department's investigation, dubbed "Operation Roid Runner," at 10:30 a.m. in Harrisburg, which has resulted in arrests connected to an operation involving the use, distribution and manufacture of steroids in Lehigh, Northampton, Dauphin and Cumberland counties.
In a press release, Corbett said the investigation began in the fall of 2007. He said since 2004, the defendants have been responsible for bringing more than $170,000 worth of steroids from China and Mexico into Pennsylvania.
The identities of the defendants will be released at the news conference.
Can't find the press release they refer to online, I suspect they have leaked the story ahead of schedule.
( it's possible this is an old story that has been run by local papers by mistake, we should know in a few hours when the press release fails to appear )
State Attorney General Tom Corbett will release the details on his department's investigation, dubbed "Operation Roid Runner," at 10:30 a.m. in Harrisburg, which has resulted in arrests connected to an operation involving the use, distribution and manufacture of steroids in Lehigh, Northampton, Dauphin and Cumberland counties.
In a press release, Corbett said the investigation began in the fall of 2007. He said since 2004, the defendants have been responsible for bringing more than $170,000 worth of steroids from China and Mexico into Pennsylvania.
The identities of the defendants will be released at the news conference.
Can't find the press release they refer to online, I suspect they have leaked the story ahead of schedule.
( it's possible this is an old story that has been run by local papers by mistake, we should know in a few hours when the press release fails to appear )
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