Edison gym trainer caught dealing steroids again, shipping drugs online, feds say
on May 23, 2013 at 7:00 AM, updated May 23, 2013 at 7:34 AM
Edison gym trainer caught dealing steroids again, shipping drugs online, feds say | NJ.com
NEWARK — Richard Gray, who works as a personal trainer at a gym in Edison, had a virtual drug store in his home, authorities say.
Mastabol. Testosterone. Boldenone Undecylenate. Nandrolone.
Meticulously labeled and organized in boxes and individual trays, more than 89,000 units of anabolic steroids in liquid and pill form were found in the basement of his Port Reading home, and being shipped across the country, according to federal investigators.
Wednesday, the 60-year-old Middlesex County man — who pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2008 — was charged with conspiracy to distribute the drugs, which are sometimes illicitly used by bodybuilders and athletes to bulk up muscles or enhance athletic performance.
According to a complaint filed in federal court in Newark, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection stumbled onto Gray last month after conducting a "routine" border inspection of a package that had been shipped from China to a consignment store in Edison.
The package’s mail declaration stated it contained "hardware products" and was addressed to a business, Custom Parts, in care of the consignment store. Inside, agents found approximately 110 ampules that were individually labeled as different types of anabolic steroids.
Store employees identified Gray as the intended recipient, telling investigators the store was holding another package for him, which turned out to be nearly identical to the first and had been sent by the same shipper in China.
Gray was arrested when he arrived at the store to pick up the second package, authorities said.
After consenting to a search of his home, authorities said, they found thousands of vials and containers of anabolic steroids in his basement, stacked on shelves like a pharmaceutical warehouse awaiting shipment.
Some were in injectable form, contained in syringe vials. Others were stored in large, gallon-sized plastic bags. Prosecutors said agents also found assorted shipping labels, packaging materials, shrink wrap and a large amount of Western Union receipts evidencing wire transfers from various individuals throughout the country. They would not disclose the names of those recipients.
Gray was not charged with selling any of the drugs at the gym where he works.
In court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Olivia said Gray was using the internet to sell and ship the steroids all over the United States.
Gray, dressed in a black T-shirt and warm-up pants, said little during the preliminary hearing. Bail was set at $50,000 with strict restrictions on his computer use.
Court records show Gray was arrested on similar charges in 2007, federal officials confirmed. In that case, Food and Drug Administration agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York intercepted a series of parcels from China containing hundreds of vials of human growth hormone addressed to Gray. Experts say China is a high volume supplier of steroids and HGH.
According to U.S. postal inspectors, Gray at the time was also shipping up to 20 packages each week, using a fake return address. In January 2008, he pleaded guilty to distributing HGH without a prescription. He received probation.
After Wednesday’s hearing, defense attorney Matthew Eichen of New Brunswick said he had yet to see much more than the government’s complaint against Gray.
"It’s very early in the process," Eichen said. "He’s facing very serious charges."
If convicted, Gray faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
on May 23, 2013 at 7:00 AM, updated May 23, 2013 at 7:34 AM
Edison gym trainer caught dealing steroids again, shipping drugs online, feds say | NJ.com
NEWARK — Richard Gray, who works as a personal trainer at a gym in Edison, had a virtual drug store in his home, authorities say.
Mastabol. Testosterone. Boldenone Undecylenate. Nandrolone.
Meticulously labeled and organized in boxes and individual trays, more than 89,000 units of anabolic steroids in liquid and pill form were found in the basement of his Port Reading home, and being shipped across the country, according to federal investigators.
Wednesday, the 60-year-old Middlesex County man — who pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2008 — was charged with conspiracy to distribute the drugs, which are sometimes illicitly used by bodybuilders and athletes to bulk up muscles or enhance athletic performance.
According to a complaint filed in federal court in Newark, agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection stumbled onto Gray last month after conducting a "routine" border inspection of a package that had been shipped from China to a consignment store in Edison.
The package’s mail declaration stated it contained "hardware products" and was addressed to a business, Custom Parts, in care of the consignment store. Inside, agents found approximately 110 ampules that were individually labeled as different types of anabolic steroids.
Store employees identified Gray as the intended recipient, telling investigators the store was holding another package for him, which turned out to be nearly identical to the first and had been sent by the same shipper in China.
Gray was arrested when he arrived at the store to pick up the second package, authorities said.
After consenting to a search of his home, authorities said, they found thousands of vials and containers of anabolic steroids in his basement, stacked on shelves like a pharmaceutical warehouse awaiting shipment.
Some were in injectable form, contained in syringe vials. Others were stored in large, gallon-sized plastic bags. Prosecutors said agents also found assorted shipping labels, packaging materials, shrink wrap and a large amount of Western Union receipts evidencing wire transfers from various individuals throughout the country. They would not disclose the names of those recipients.
Gray was not charged with selling any of the drugs at the gym where he works.
In court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Falk in Newark Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Olivia said Gray was using the internet to sell and ship the steroids all over the United States.
Gray, dressed in a black T-shirt and warm-up pants, said little during the preliminary hearing. Bail was set at $50,000 with strict restrictions on his computer use.
Court records show Gray was arrested on similar charges in 2007, federal officials confirmed. In that case, Food and Drug Administration agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York intercepted a series of parcels from China containing hundreds of vials of human growth hormone addressed to Gray. Experts say China is a high volume supplier of steroids and HGH.
According to U.S. postal inspectors, Gray at the time was also shipping up to 20 packages each week, using a fake return address. In January 2008, he pleaded guilty to distributing HGH without a prescription. He received probation.
After Wednesday’s hearing, defense attorney Matthew Eichen of New Brunswick said he had yet to see much more than the government’s complaint against Gray.
"It’s very early in the process," Eichen said. "He’s facing very serious charges."
If convicted, Gray faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
