Man Sentenced to Five Months in Prison for Distributing Steroids
Las Vegas, Nev. - A Canadian citizen residing in Henderson, Nevada, has been sentenced to five months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for his guilty plea to possession with the intent to distribute anabolic steroids, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
VALERIO MOSCARIELLO, age 31, of Toronto, Canada, pleaded guilty in August to the felony offense. He admitted to unlawfully possessing 27 units (270 cc) of anabolic steroids, Schedule III controlled substances, and to operating a website at www.juiceworld.com, that was accessible to the general public for the purpose of distributing these anabolic steroids.
"Individuals who unlawfully distribute drugs, including anabolic steroids, over the Internet will be prosecuted and possibly sentenced to lengthy terms of imprisonment," said U.S. Attorney Bogden. "Purchasing controlled substances from unlicensed persons without a valid prescription is unsafe and could threaten your life or the lives of others."
The sentence was handed down on Monday, October 31, 2005, by U.S. District Judge Roger L. Hunt, and included an enhancement under the federal sentencing guidelines for distributing the substances through mass-marketing by means of an interactive computer service.
In February 2005, U.S. Postal Inspectors tracked a steroid distribution operation to the defendant's residence in Henderson. In June 2005, law enforcement officers executed a search of the residence and seized a quantity of anabolic steroids, including Primobolon Depot, Deca Nadrolone Decanoate, and Trenbolone Acetate. They also seized "buy-owe" sheets, materials such as small bottles and syringes consistent with the repackaging of these substances, and approximately $16,000 in cash.
MOSCARIELLO must remove his website www.juiceworld.com from the internet and surrender the unlawful items seized from his home in June. He is presently in immigration custody awaiting a removal hearing.
The case was investigated by Inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Special Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Officers with the Henderson Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Crane M. Pomerantz.
