College professor implicated in large North Texas illegal steroid distribution ring

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College professor implicated in large North Texas illegal steroid distribution ring
Published: September 29, 2015 Kevin Krause


An accomplished Auburn University science professor is among those charged in federal court in Dallas in connection with an illegal steroid distribution ring, court records show.

Yonnie Wu was director of the Alabama college’s Mass Spectrometry Center in its chemistry and biochemistry department.

Prosecutors say he tested steroids from China and other sources in his university lab so the conspirators could market the drugs on websites that vouched for the purity and quality of the products.

Wu is charged in a five-count federal indictment that was updated last week. He no longer is listed as an Auburn faculty member. Wu pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of steroids, court records show.

Wu has a doctorate degree and has published dozens of papers in scientific journals related to agricultural biotechnology, analytical chemistry, biophysics and mammalian cell biology, court records show.

He has more than 10 patents from his work in the field and has developed medical products such as a protein mask for skin regeneration, a protein fiber for anti-aging and a testosterone-based nasal spray, records show.

Michael Lee Heryford, of Washington, operated and managed the anabolic steroids ring, which included at least six others, federal authorities said. The conspiracy began around October 2013, and manufacturing labs were located in North Texas, officials said.

Four of the defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison time. Heryford also pleaded guilty. His sentencing is scheduled for November.

Heryford told authorities that Wu and Scott Davis were involved with testing the drugs, which he obtained from “different clandestine manufacturers.” Each test cost about $75.

Davis used steroids and worked at Auburn University from 2006 to November 2013 in the IT department, records show.

Heryford said he shipped samples, many of which came from China, directly to Wu and also had Davis deliver them.

Wu used Auburn University laboratory equipment to test for concentrations, purity and quality of the steroids, according to a federal complaint.

At one point, Wu shut down the steroid testing for a few months after his graduate student questioned the legality of their actions, the complaint said.

Wu resumed the tests after the student graduated, court records show.

At least once, Heryford emailed Wu to “alert him to expect shipments of samples for testing disguised as innocuous products, such as ‘Chinese Coconut Milk Tea mix,’” the complaint said.

In the fall of 2014, Wu was hoping to patent his testosterone-based nasal spray for sale to the public, the indictment said. Wu needed access to certain compounds including testosterone and human growth hormone to develop his product. He got them from Davis and Heryford, the indictment said.

“Wu also sought to provide certain amounts of HGH to clients he maintained in China,” the indictment said.

Heryford and a co-defendant sold about $600,000 worth of steroids in seven months with the help of Wu’s testing, the indictment said.

Wu did not earn any money from the testing, authorities said. The payments for testing went to the university.

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Professor’s tests aided Dallas-area steroid ring, prosecutors say
By KEVIN KRAUS,Published: 02 October 2015




An accomplished university professor and biochemistry researcher needed testosterone to develop a nasal spray he planned to patent. But Yonnie Wu had one big problem: finding a way to legally obtain it.

So, authorities say, Wu turned to illegal means. He found a supplier who turned out to be the head of a large anabolic steroids ring.

In exchange for testosterone, Wu agreed to test steroids at Auburn University’s Mass Spectrometry Center, which he directed in the chemistry and biochemistry department. Wu, who was arrested in Alabama in May, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor count of steroids possession and faces up to a year in federal prison when he is sentenced later.

Authorities said he did not earn any money for the testing since the payments he received went to Auburn.

Prosecutors said Wu’s tests allowed the conspirators to market the drugs on websites that vouched for the purity and quality of the products. One website claimed its steroid products “exceeded the highest quality control standards in the industry” and are “highly effective, completely safe and 100% legit.”

Auburn University said it cooperated with federal authorities and terminated Wu’s six-year employment there on July 17.

Wu has a doctoral degree and has published dozens of papers in scientific journals related to agricultural biotechnology, analytical chemistry, biophysics and mammalian cell biology, federal court records show.

He has more than 10 patents and has developed medical products such as a protein mask for skin regeneration, a protein fiber for anti-aging and the testosterone-based nasal spray, records show.

His attorney, Jeffrey C. Grass, said the resolution of the case should allow his client to “continue in whatever profession he seeks.”

“He’s a brilliant researcher,” Grass said. “He’s done some impressive work in his life.”

The ring

Michael Lee Heryford of Washington and Hal Donald Lavern Clayton, 42, of Dallas operated and managed the steroids ring, which included at least five others, federal authorities said.

The conspiracy began around October 2013. Steroids were shipped to a private mailbox in Dallas, and some manufacturing labs were located in North Texas, officials said, including one run by Clayton in Forney. Clayton, also known as Hallie Clayton, owned or was involved in several bars in Uptown Dallas.

Four of the defendants, including Clayton, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and were sentenced to prison time. Clayton is serving three years. Heryford also pleaded guilty. His sentencing is scheduled for November.

Heryford told authorities that Wu and Scott Davis were involved with testing the drugs, which Heryford got from “different clandestine manufacturers.” Each test cost about $75.

Making connections

According to court records, Davis used steroids and worked at Auburn from 2006 to November 2013 in the IT department. Heryford said he shipped steroid samples, many of which came from China, directly to Wu and also had Davis deliver them.

In the fall of 2014, Wu was hoping to patent his testosterone-based nasal spray for sale to the public, the indictment said. Wu needed access to substances including testosterone and human growth hormone to develop his product and got them from Davis and Heryford.

“Wu also sought to provide certain amounts of HGH to clients he maintained in China,” the indictment said.

Heryford and a co-defendant sold about $600,000 worth of steroids in seven months with the help of Wu’s testing, the indictment said.

At one point, Wu shut down the steroid testing for a few months after his graduate student questioned the legality of his actions, the complaint said. But after the student graduated, Wu resumed the tests.