Telford Man Pleads Guilty To Illegal Distribution Of Steroids

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On Jan. 30, 2013, Freddie Matthew Sergent, 30, of Telford, Tenn., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to unlawfully distributing anabolic steroids. Sentencing has been set for 9:00 am on August 12, 2013. Sergent faces up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone and are regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as a Schedule III controlled substance. As a Schedule III controlled substance, they may not be possessed lawfully in the United States without a prescription. Distribution and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids by a person who is not a Drug Enforcement Agent (DEA) registrant, such as a physician or a pharmacy, is unlawful and a violation of the CSA.

From approximately 2009 to April 2012, Sergent unlawfully distributed anabolic steroids from his residence in Telford, Tenn. He obtained raw steroid powders and other materials through the U.S. mails and other carriers from sources in China. Sergent further processed and packaged the steroids into vials containing approximately 300 milliliters of a solution containing an anabolic steroid, to include the Schedule III anabolic steroid boldenone undecylenate, often referred to by the trade name “Equipoise.” He then sold the steroids to customers in eastern Tennessee as well as customers across the United States.

In March 2012 Sergent mailed a package to a customer in Michigan that was intercepted and opened pursuant to a federal search warrant. Agents found a glass bottle with a label affixed which read in part, "Equipoise 300 mg/ml." Subsequent testing by the DEA Laboratory determined the bottle to contain boldenone undecylenate, an anabolic steroid.

In April 2012, a federal search warrant was executed at Sergent’s residence. Agents recovered steroid powders, materials used to process and package steroids, syringes, computers used to order and sell steroids over the Internet, and three firearms. Sergent admitted that he had been ordering steroid powder from China, processing and packaging the steroids, and selling the steroids to customers throughout the United States, sending the steroids through the U.S. mail. He said he had sold approximately $80,000 worth of steroids at $40 per vial.

Agencies involved in this investigation which led to the charges and guilty plea included the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Smith represented the United States.