Mandeville Woman Charged In Indictment for Operating Businesses Selling Anabolic Steroids and Prescription Medication

NEW ORLEANS -  U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced the September 4, 2019 unsealing of a seven-count Indictment charging NATALIE BARTON, age 41, of Mandeville, Louisiana, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute anabolic steroids, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(E)(i) and 846 (Count 1); conspiracy to misbrand drugs, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 (Count 2); distribution of anabolic steroids, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(E)(i), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2 (Counts 3 and 4); and misbranding of prescription drugs, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 331(a) and 333(a)(2), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2 (Counts 6 and 7). 

According to the Indictment, NATALIE BARTON and her husband E.B. owned and operated certain websites from which they sold anabolic steroids, including substances sold under the names “Desoxy-T Acetate,” “Celtic Mass,” and “Dienolone Acetate.”  For a time, they also operated a brick-and-mortar store in Metairie, Louisiana from which they sold these anabolic steroids.  These substances were chemically similar to testosterone or other anabolic steroids, and had pharmacological effects similar to testosterone, including promoting muscle growth.  In some cases these substances were sold with provisos indicating that they were not for human consumption or were for research purposes, but those provisos were false, and they were sold with the intent of promoting muscle growth in humans or to cause a pharmacological effect similar to testosterone. 

According to the Indictment, NATALIE BARTON and her husband also sold prescription medications through their websites and in their brick-and-mortar store.  These prescription drugs were dispensed without valid prescriptions issued by licensed practitioners, and without labels that complied with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.  Instead, these substances included labels that were misleading, in that they stated that the substances were not for human consumption, which was false.  NATALIE BARTON and E.B. were not practitioners licensed by law to administer prescription drugs.  Many of the prescription drugs sold are commonly abused in conjunction with the use of anabolic steroids because they either treat negative side effects of anabolic steroids or have complementary effects. 

If convicted, NATALIE BARTON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years of imprisonment followed by at least 2 years of supervised release on the anabolic-steroid-related counts, and a maximum term of imprisonment of 3 years followed 1 year of supervised release on the misbranding-related counts.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley said, “Those who choose to violate laws designed to ensure the safe and legal dispensation of pharmaceutical drugs will not escape the scrutiny of DEA.  This indictment is a direct result of outstanding partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement.  DEA will continue to pursue those who threaten our communities through the distribution of these potentially dangerous drugs.”

“U.S. consumers rely on the FDA to ensure that the drugs they take are safe, effective and properly labeled,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin D. Green, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. “We remain committed to pursuing and bringing to justice those who attempt to subvert the regulatory functions of the FDA by distributing unapproved and misbranded drugs.” 

“It is extremely important that consumers who use dietary supplements and medications have the expectation of safe products. As part of this indictment alleges, if supplements and medications contain components that are not legally approved, the health of the public is put at risk and the public’s trust violated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser. “Our office, along with our investigative partners, will continue to investigate alleged improprieties and bring to justice those who place our community at risk.”

U.S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter.  U.S. Attorney Strasser expressed appreciation for the support provided by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory.  Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Shih is in charge of the prosecution

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

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