LAWFUEL – Press Release Service – R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and David Bourne, Special Agent in Charge, United States Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, announced the sentencing earlier today of defendant Andrew Schwartz for his participation in conspiracies to distribute anabolic steroids and other prescription medications via two websites.
United States District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley sentenced Schwartz to eleven(11) months’ imprisonment for his role in the conspiracies and related offenses. After Schwartz completes his term of imprisonment, he will serve two (2) years of supervised release. Schwartz was ordered to pay a $525 special assessment and was ordered to forfeit more than $4,700 that was seized from Schwartz during the investigation.
On January 23, 2006, Andrew Schwartz, the former operator of the website www.TheGrowthClinic.com, pled guilty to six (6) counts of an Information. Counts 1 and 2 charged that Schwartz conspired with others to distribute anabolic steroids via two websites, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. Count 3 charged conspiracy to commit money laundering of the proceeds of the steroid sales, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956. Count 4 charged distribution of Human Growth Hormone without a physician’s prescription, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 333(e)(1). Count 5 charged the defendant with using his home as a place for the distribution of controlled substances, that is, steroids and other prescription medications, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 856(a)(1). Lastly, Count 6 charged Schwartz with possession of crystal methamphetamine for personal use, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 844(a).
Schwartz, a long-time abuser of anabolic steroids and a former competitive bodybuilder, worked with another individual to distribute steroids and other drugs via the website www.ProAnabolics.com. Schwartz left that group to start his own website, www.TheGrowthClinic.com, where he continued to distribute anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and prescription medications that were illegally imported into the United States from Mexico, China, Spain, and other countries.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Food and Drug Administration and the Coconut Creek Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann Marie C.Villafana.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on .
