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Press Release- Lake Charles, La.: United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today, the guilty pleas of the remaining defendants who were involved in a large scale conspiracy to possess and distribute anabolic steroids in the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Texas and Louisiana.
Bryce Thomas Meaux, 24, Shane Patrick Hinton, 23, Tyler Jordan Kuykendall, 20, all of Lake Charles, La.; Terry Duane Kuykendall, 24, of Baton Rouge, La.; Troy Newton Broussard, 27, of Lafayette, La.; and Ronald Lee Bert Fontenot, 23, of Eunice, La.; pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi in Lake Charles, La.
Guilty pleas were accepted yesterday by Judge Minaldi from Jordan Blake Berza, 26, Christopher Keith Gass, 25, both of Lake Charles, La.; Blake Meche, 25, of Rayne, La.; Cainen Lee Matte, 24, of Baton Rouge, La.; and Shane Keith Weekly, 24 of Lake Arthur, La. Defendant, Daniel
Kent Bosely previously pleaded guilty before Judge Minaldi on June 9, 2011. All defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and the distribution of anabolic steroids. Two defendants, Berza and Gass, also
pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering.
According to court documents, these defendants were involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for receiving several hundred ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids, numerous packages of anabolic steroid cream, and approximately 35 kilograms of raw steroid powder which was shipped from China and Germany.
Once the internationally shipped packages of anabolic steroid powder were received by members of the organization, the powder was then converted into an injectable form, bottled, labeled for distribution, and sold. This drug trafficking organization sold anabolic steroids to individuals located in the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana and Texas. In total, approximately 7,000 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids were manufactured, possessed, and distributed by this drug trafficking organization. More than 600 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids were seized from members of the organization through undercover purchases, traffic stops and search warrants. Agents also seized hundreds of empty vials, caps, syringes, three clandestine laboratories, and approximately one kilogram of raw steroid powder. Approximately $93,000.00 was seized from members of the organization, the majority of which came from bank seizure warrants on accounts belonging to Jordan Berza and Christopher Gass, to include $13,000.00 in cash seized from the residence of Berza. Berza, who co-owned Planet Nutrition in Lake Charles with co-defendant Christopher Gass, was utilizing the business as a distribution point for his anabolic steroids. Berza also delivered and mailed steroids to many of his distributors.
All monies seized by law enforcement from Berza's residence and financial accounts registered to Berza and Gass, represent drug proceeds from the sale of anabolic steroids.
U. S. Attorney Stephanie Finley stated, "This is a very large steroid case. These defendants were illegally importing and distributing anabolic steroids imported from foreign countries to include China and Germany which were intentionally mislabeled.
They were well organized, with a geographically diverse clientele and their sole motivation
was greed. My office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute this type of illegal
activity and will continue to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated."
Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI) in New Orleans, Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., stated, "ICE focuses not only on keeping illegal products out of the United States but also on identifying and dismantling the criminal organizations behind this activity. ICE/HSI uses its unique customs and immigration authorities to attack and dismantle smuggling organizations whether they smuggle drugs or people across our borders." Parmer oversees a five-state area which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee.
Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, James C. Lee stated, "We are pleased with the announcements of these guilty pleas. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to utilize our forensic accounting skills in a joint investigation to put a stop to money laundering and other types of white collar fraud."
At sentencing, the defendants face up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000.00, and a term of supervised release of not less than two nor more than three years, following confinement, for the conspiracy charge. Berza and Gass also face up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00 or twice the value of the property involved, and a term of supervised release of not more than three years, following confinement, for the money laundering charges.
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, U. S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United
States Attorney J. Collin Sims.
Bryce Thomas Meaux, 24, Shane Patrick Hinton, 23, Tyler Jordan Kuykendall, 20, all of Lake Charles, La.; Terry Duane Kuykendall, 24, of Baton Rouge, La.; Troy Newton Broussard, 27, of Lafayette, La.; and Ronald Lee Bert Fontenot, 23, of Eunice, La.; pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi in Lake Charles, La.
Guilty pleas were accepted yesterday by Judge Minaldi from Jordan Blake Berza, 26, Christopher Keith Gass, 25, both of Lake Charles, La.; Blake Meche, 25, of Rayne, La.; Cainen Lee Matte, 24, of Baton Rouge, La.; and Shane Keith Weekly, 24 of Lake Arthur, La. Defendant, Daniel
Kent Bosely previously pleaded guilty before Judge Minaldi on June 9, 2011. All defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and the distribution of anabolic steroids. Two defendants, Berza and Gass, also
pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering.
According to court documents, these defendants were involved in a drug trafficking organization responsible for receiving several hundred ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids, numerous packages of anabolic steroid cream, and approximately 35 kilograms of raw steroid powder which was shipped from China and Germany.
Once the internationally shipped packages of anabolic steroid powder were received by members of the organization, the powder was then converted into an injectable form, bottled, labeled for distribution, and sold. This drug trafficking organization sold anabolic steroids to individuals located in the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana and Texas. In total, approximately 7,000 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids were manufactured, possessed, and distributed by this drug trafficking organization. More than 600 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids were seized from members of the organization through undercover purchases, traffic stops and search warrants. Agents also seized hundreds of empty vials, caps, syringes, three clandestine laboratories, and approximately one kilogram of raw steroid powder. Approximately $93,000.00 was seized from members of the organization, the majority of which came from bank seizure warrants on accounts belonging to Jordan Berza and Christopher Gass, to include $13,000.00 in cash seized from the residence of Berza. Berza, who co-owned Planet Nutrition in Lake Charles with co-defendant Christopher Gass, was utilizing the business as a distribution point for his anabolic steroids. Berza also delivered and mailed steroids to many of his distributors.
All monies seized by law enforcement from Berza's residence and financial accounts registered to Berza and Gass, represent drug proceeds from the sale of anabolic steroids.
U. S. Attorney Stephanie Finley stated, "This is a very large steroid case. These defendants were illegally importing and distributing anabolic steroids imported from foreign countries to include China and Germany which were intentionally mislabeled.
They were well organized, with a geographically diverse clientele and their sole motivation
was greed. My office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute this type of illegal
activity and will continue to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated."
Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI) in New Orleans, Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., stated, "ICE focuses not only on keeping illegal products out of the United States but also on identifying and dismantling the criminal organizations behind this activity. ICE/HSI uses its unique customs and immigration authorities to attack and dismantle smuggling organizations whether they smuggle drugs or people across our borders." Parmer oversees a five-state area which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee.
Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, James C. Lee stated, "We are pleased with the announcements of these guilty pleas. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to utilize our forensic accounting skills in a joint investigation to put a stop to money laundering and other types of white collar fraud."
At sentencing, the defendants face up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000.00, and a term of supervised release of not less than two nor more than three years, following confinement, for the conspiracy charge. Berza and Gass also face up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00 or twice the value of the property involved, and a term of supervised release of not more than three years, following confinement, for the money laundering charges.
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, U. S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United
States Attorney J. Collin Sims.