August 18, 2017: Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Steroids, Money Laundering
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U.S. Department of Justice Press Release
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For Immediate Release |
United States Department of Justice District of Rhode Island |
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PROVIDENCE – Evan Speck, 34, of Westerly, R.I., a former Charlestown, R.I., police officer, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence today to charges that he trafficked steroids and laundered the proceeds from his sales.
Appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, Speck pleaded guilty to an information charging him with possession with the intent to distribute steroids, distribution of a misbranded drug, and money laundering.
Speck’s guilty plea is announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Shelly A. Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations for New England.
According to information presented to the Court, on March 20, 2017, federal investigators executed a court-authorized search of Speck’s residence, and encountered items associated with the receipt, packaging and resale of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. The residence also contained numerous labels containing the name under which he sold steroids, TabMan Pharmaceuticals.
Investigators also seized various false identification documents, ledgers, and cash. The ledgers show that from approximately June 2015 to the date of the search, Speck received $536,000 from the sale of steroids and other drugs. Investigators also seized two firearms from Speck’s residence, and a loaded firearm found stashed in his vehicle.
According to information presented to the Court, Speck had been ordering Testosterone Cipionate from China since at least the beginning of 2015, repackaging the drug and selling it to his customers. At no time either upon receipt by the defendant nor after repackaging it under the name “TabMan Pharmaceuticals” did the testosterone contain labeling specifying directions for its use.
Speck conducted his drug transactions through third party, member only, and web based steroid boards to connect with potential customers. He communicated with his customers, many of whom were professional and amateur bodybuilders, and distributors of raw products utilizing encrypted emails and varying email addresses. He utilized text message software that would eliminate texts after they were read.
To conceal the movement of funds, Speck utilized various money remittance services, utilizing false names to conceal his identity as both the sender and recipient of tainted funds. Speck, his customers and distributors of raw product, utilized regularly changing intermediary nominees, domestically and abroad, to receive money remittances.
The defendant also used crypto-cyber currency, Bitcoin, to conceal both the purchase and sales of products.
According to court documents, Speck will forfeit to the government the three firearms and a total of $17,954 in cash seized during the court authorized search of his home; and will, based on his narcotics trafficking, as charged in the information, forfeit a sum of money equal to the total value of forfeitable assets, in the amount of $536,000.
Additionally, the government and Speck have agreed that for the purpose of calculating the appropriate sentencing guideline range, the defendant possessed a dangerous weapon in connection with drug trafficking and the defendant distributed an anabolic steroid to an athlete.
Speck is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2017 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dulce Donovan and Mary E. Rogers, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island FDA Office of Criminal Investigations task force, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The Rhode Island FDA Office of Criminal Investigations task force is comprised of agents and officers from the FDA, IRS, DEA, HSI, Rhode Island State Police and the East Providence, North Providence and Westerly Police Departments.
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Topic(s):
Drug Trafficking
Financial Fraud
Component(s):
Contact:
Jim Martin (401) 709-5357 email: USARI.Media@usdoj.gov on Twitter @USAO_RI
Press Release Number:
17-99