NEW: Four Charged in Conspiracy to Import & Distribute Steroids from Hong Kong

NEW: Four Charged in Conspiracy to Import & Distribute Steroids from Hong Kong

Four individuals have been arrested and charged in a conspiracy to import and distribute steroids from Hong Kong throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman on Wednesday.

Those arrested include David Esser, 46, James McLaughlin, 34, and Alison Esser, aka Alison Shephard, 41, of North Attleboro, and Mason Nieves, 27, of Providence.

They are charged with intent to distribute schedule III and IV controlled substances; conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute and conspiracy to import schedule III and IV controlled substances; manufacturing and distributing schedule III and IV controlled substances; importation of controlled substances into the United States; trafficking in counterfeit goods and services; smuggling goods into the United States.

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They were also charged with wire fraud and money laundering.

The Investigation

It is alleged in court documents that the leader of the conspiracy, Esser, arranged for the importation of large quantities of raw steroids from international suppliers, primarily based in Hong Kong. A significant number of orders placed by Esser for raw steroids were for multiple kilograms of product.

According to court documents, it is alleged that Esser arranged to have the raw steroids shipped directly to locations within the United States where, at his direction, individuals “cooked” the raw steroid product into liquid form, packaged the liquid in plastic vials, and shipped the finished products to a stash house he operated in North Attleboro.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Esser provided the middle-men with the supplies required for the preparation and packaging of the steroids. Shipments to the middle-men also included cash payments to them for performing these tasks.

It is alleged that after the packaged steroids arrived at Esser’s stash house, Esser, and others working at his direction, prepared customers’ orders for steroids. Members of the conspiracy shipped the packages to customers throughout the United States, utilizing several U.S. Post Offices, including Providence’s main post office from which a significant number of packages were mailed.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, it is alleged that in an effort to disguise the proceeds from the illegal sales of steroids, members of the conspiracy oftentimes moved the proceeds from bank account to bank account, and used some of the proceeds to purchase, among other things, raw steroid products, steroid trafficking supplies, vehicles, and properties.

Proceeds from some sales of steroids were paid to the members of the conspiracy in cash.

Other payments were made by cryptocurrency.