U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Phillip Braun et al.
United States v. Phillip Braun, a/k/a "PJ," Aaron Singerman, Robert DiMaggio, Anthony Ventrella, a/k/a "Joey," James Boccuzzi, David Winsauer, Blackstone Labs, LLC, and Ventech Labs, LLC
9:19-CR-80030-Dimitrouleas (S.D. Florida)
Court Assigned: This case is assigned to the Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse, 299 East Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. All charges in this case have been resolved by guilty pleas or a conviction at trial.
If you are a victim of the offenses in this case, you may contact the Victim-Witness Coordinator in the Southern District of Florida to help you exercise your rights, including restitution for medical or professional expenses, lost income, and childcare, transportation and other expenses related to participation in the investigation or prosecution of the offenses.
For information or assistance, please contact:
Evelyn Cotto
Victim Witness Coordinator
U.S. Attorney’s Office - Southern District of Florida
(954) 660-5153
The information on this website will be updated as new developments arise in the case.
UPDATES:
On December 9, 2021, a jury convicted defendant James Boccuzzi of Counts 1 and 4 of the charges laid out below, the crimes of conspiracy to defraud the United States and the crime of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances.
On November 18, 2021, defendant Blackstone Labs, LLC, pleaded guilty to Counts 1, 3, and 4 of the charges as laid out below – the crimes of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit mail and wire fraud, the crime of selling unapproved new drugs and the crime of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances.
On November 17, 2021, defendants Aaron Singerman and Phillip “PJ” Braun pleaded guilty to Counts 3 and 4 of the charges as laid out below –the crime of selling unapproved new drugs and the crime of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances.
On September 16, 2021, defendant Anthony Ventrella pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the charges as laid out below –the crime of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit mail and wire fraud
On September 16, 2021, defendant Ventech Labs pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the charges as laid out below – the crime of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit mail and wire fraud.
On September 2, 2021 defendant David Winsauer pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the charges as laid out below – the crime of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
On November 19, 2019, defendant Robert DiMaggio pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the charges as laid out below – the crime of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Criminal Charges:
On March 7, 2019, six people and two Florida corporations were charged in an indictment for their roles in a scheme to distribute illegal dietary supplements.
Phillip Braun, Aaron Singerman, Robert DiMaggio, Anthony Ventrella, David Winsauer, James Boccuzzi, Blackstone Labs, LLC, and Ventech Labs, LLC were charged in a 14-count indictment that was unsealed on March 13, 2019.
The indictment alleges that the defendants sold illegal products, including anabolic steroids, nationwide and internationally, fraudulently representing that those products were high-quality, legal dietary supplements. According to the indictment, the defendants created an illicit manufacturing company and routed sales of illegal products through trusted distributors, knowing that the products were unsafe or could not legally be sold to consumers.
- All of the defendants were charged with one count of a conspiracy to defraud consumers and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by selling products labeled as dietary supplements that contained unapproved new drugs, illegal steroids, and other ingredients that were hazardous and prohibited by law.
- The indictment also charges Braun, an owner of Blackstone Labs, and Singerman, a former company owner, with two counts of introducing a product known as Super DMZ RX 2.0, an unapproved new drug, into interstate commerce.
- The indictment further charges Braun, Singerman, and five other defendants with one count of a conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids, which are Schedule III controlled substances under federal law and which may cause kidney failure, liver damage, and other permanent health problems when misused.
- The indictment additionally charges several defendants in three separate counts of distribution of anabolic steroids and charges Ventrella with one count of possession of an anabolic steroid with the intent to distribute.
- Braun and Singerman are each charged with three counts of money laundering.
Count 1 of the Indictment alleges that defendants falsely marketed their products as legal dietary supplements. Count 1 of Indictment alleges that the following products were distributed as part of a conspiracy to defraud consumers and the FDA:
- Super DMZ RX 2.0
- Alpha-1 Max
- Angel Dust
- Ostapure
- Ostapro
- PCT IV
- Euphoria RX
Hearings:
Judge Dimitrouleas held hearings on the defendants’ pretrial motions on February 21, 2020 and March 2-4, 2020. The Court denied the defendants’ motions to dismiss and motions to suppress.
Sentencing Hearings:
Aaron Singerman – January 27, 2022
Phillip Braun – January 27, 2022
Blackstone Labs, LLC – January 27, 2022
Robert DiMaggio – February 4, 2022
Anthony Ventrella – February 4, 2022
David Winsauer – February 4, 2022
Ventech Labs – February 4, 2022
James Boccuzzi – February 17, 2022
Judge Dimitrouleas will conduct the sentencings hearings at the following address:
Fort Lauderdale Division
United States District Court
299 East Broward Boulevard
Courtroom 205B
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Case Documents
3/7/19 - Indictment
3/13/19 - Indictment Press Release
4/3/19 - Victim Letter
12/10/2021 – Trial Press Release
- None