More Arrests in PA Steroid Ring Bust
HARRISBURG, Pa. – August 20, 2010 (WPVI) — “Operation Roid Runner” started in 2009 and Pa. officials are announcing more arrests today.
Narcotics agents from the Attorney General’s Office have filed criminal charges against six suspects connected to the use and distribution of steroids in the Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery and Northampton County areas. These charges are a result of the second phase of an ongoing steroid manufacturing and trafficking investigation, known as Operation Roid Runner. The first phase of the investigation, dubbed “Operation Roid Runner” when it was first announced in November, focused on a group allegedly responsible for bringing more than $170,000 worth of steroids from China and Mexico into Pennsylvania. Ten people were arrested in connection with “Operation Roid Runner” in November.
“Following those initial arrests, our agents continued to develop the evidence to identify more individuals who were allegedly obtaining steroids and distributing them to others for resale and personal use,” Corbett said. A grand jury heard testimony and saw evidence, leading to today’s charges.
Corbett said that both Frank Peters, of Ambler, and Brian Chamberlain, of West Chester, allegedly obtained steroids for use and resale in Pennsylvania by placing orders on the internet to various individuals in China, Hungary and Pakistan. The international suppliers were paid via wire transfers.
According to the grand jury, Peters sent nine wire transfers overseas, totaling $8,500, between February 2009 to February 2010. Chamberlain sent 13 wire transfers overseas over a one-year period, totaling almost $10,000.
Corbett said that Peters’ girlfriend, Angela Girondo ,of Ambler, allegedly worked with Peters to distribute steroids in Chester County, delivering up to 19 bottles at a time.
The investigation also revealed that Edward Moyzan, of Trexlertown, was distributing steroids in Lehigh County and that Craig Johnson, of Allentown, allegedly brokered some of Moyzan’s sales for him.
Corbett said that Moyzan allegedly obtained steroids from Brian Potance, of Easton. Moyzan allegedly bought five to 10 bottles at a time, many times meeting at a restaurant in Bethlehem to make the transactions.
Corbett noted that as part of the second phase of the investigation, agents seized nearly 300 bottles of steroids and more than 2,300 pills containing steroids.
The defendants will be preliminarily arraigned before Lehigh County Magisterial District Judge Donna Butler and will be prosecuted in Lehigh County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Heather Adams of the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section.
Below is a full list of the defendants and the charges against them:
Craig Johnson, 39, 3102 Lehigh St., Allentown, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy.
Edward Moyzan, 37, 207 Turning Leaf, Trexlertown, is charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Brian Potance, 26, 606 Berks St., Easton, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. He is a former corrections officer at Northampton County Prison.
Brian Chamberlain, 35, 49 Sheffield Lane, West Chester, is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Frank Peters, 34, 97 Hampstead Drive, Ambler, is charged with six counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of dealing in proceeds of an unlawful activity.
Angela Girondo, 50, 97 Hampstead Drive, Ambler, is charged with four counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Corbett thanked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations for their assistance in the investigation. Corbett noted that the investigation is ongoing.
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