Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Conspiracy to Manufacture and Sell Counterfeit Steroids

Counterfeit drugs with misappropriated logo and labeling

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), a Massachusetts man pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit drugs and to distribute a controlled substance. Robert Medeiros, a 32-years-old from Gardner, was one of six people arrested and charged on April 12, 2017. The group is alleged to have manufactured illegal steroids from raw supplies bought from overseas. The steroids were falsely marketed via email and social media misappropriating the name and symbol of Onyx Pharmaceuticals. Onyx is a pharmaceutical company owned by Amgen, Inc., but they do not manufacture liquid steroids.

Medeiros’ primary role in the conspiracy was to fulfill the orders. He prepared and shipped the counterfeit steroids via the U.S. Postal Service to customers across the country. Customers paid for the steroids via financial services companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram. False identifications and multiple locations to pick up payments were part of the group’s efforts to not attract any suspicion.

Mr. Medeiros is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2017. He could be sentenced to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss of the criminal activity.