http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/07/09/state/n194545D16.DTL
From Associated Press/ July 9th, 2007
(07-09) 19:45 PDT SAN DIEGO, (AP) --
Three Mexican steroid manufacturers pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. federal court to charges of conspiring to distribute the drugs north of the border via the Internet.
The companies — Denkall, Quality Vet and Animal Power — will forfeit $1.4 million total as part of a plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a statement.
The corporations, owned by Mexican citizen Alberto Saltiel-Cohen, were collectively responsible for 75 percent of Mexican steroids seized in the U.S., authorities said. They were indicted in December 2005 along with five other Mexican anabolic steroid manufacturers in what the Drug Enforcement Administration then called its largest operation against suppliers of the banned substances.
According to the DEA, the steroid manufacturers tried to mask their intent by marketing their products for use in animals. Collectively, the businesses sold $56 million worth of steroids annually to more than 2,000 American customers, officials said.
Messages left with attorneys who have represented the companies were not immediately returned Monday.
The corporations all pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and aiding and abetting international monetary transactions.
They are cooperating with Mexican regulators to control the production of anabolic steroids in that country, prosecutors said.
From Associated Press/ July 9th, 2007
(07-09) 19:45 PDT SAN DIEGO, (AP) --
Three Mexican steroid manufacturers pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. federal court to charges of conspiring to distribute the drugs north of the border via the Internet.
The companies — Denkall, Quality Vet and Animal Power — will forfeit $1.4 million total as part of a plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney's office said in a statement.
The corporations, owned by Mexican citizen Alberto Saltiel-Cohen, were collectively responsible for 75 percent of Mexican steroids seized in the U.S., authorities said. They were indicted in December 2005 along with five other Mexican anabolic steroid manufacturers in what the Drug Enforcement Administration then called its largest operation against suppliers of the banned substances.
According to the DEA, the steroid manufacturers tried to mask their intent by marketing their products for use in animals. Collectively, the businesses sold $56 million worth of steroids annually to more than 2,000 American customers, officials said.
Messages left with attorneys who have represented the companies were not immediately returned Monday.
The corporations all pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and aiding and abetting international monetary transactions.
They are cooperating with Mexican regulators to control the production of anabolic steroids in that country, prosecutors said.