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TID Board Of Directors
- Aug 11, 2010
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Lake Charles, La.: Jordan Blake Berza was sentenced for his involvement in a large scale conspiracy to possess and distribute anabolic steroids in the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Texas and Louisiana. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi in federal court in Lake Charles, La.
Berza, 26, of Lake Charles, La., was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by three years supervised release. The judge also ordered Berza to pay a $12,000.00 fine. In lieu of the seizure of property that was purchased with drug money, the defendant will pay a lump sum of $15,000.00 to the government which is in addition to the $12,000.00 fine. Ten defendants have previously been sentenced (listed on pages 2 and 3), with the remaining defendant, Ronald Lee Bert Fontenot, 23, of Eunice, La., scheduled for sentencing on December 1, 2011.
According to court testimony, Berza was the leader of the drug trafficking organization which was responsible for receiving several hundred ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids, numerous packages of anabolic steroid cream, and approximately 35 kilograms of raw steroid powder which was shipped from China and Germany.
Once the internationally shipped packages of anabolic steroid powder were received by members of the organization, the powder was then converted into an injectable form,bottled, labeled for distribution, and sold. The organization sold the steroids to individuals located in the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana and Texas. In total, approximately 7,000 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of steroids were manufactured, possessed, and distributed by the group. More than 600 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of steroids were seized from the defendants through undercover purchases, traffic stops and search warrants. Agents also seized hundreds of empty vials, caps, syringes, three clandestine laboratories, and approximately one kilogram of raw steroid powder.
Approximately $93,000.00 was seized from members of the organization, the majority of which came from bank seizures on accounts belonging to Jordan Berza and Christopher Gass, to include $13,000.00 in cash seized from the residence of Berza. Berza was the co-owner of Planet Nutrition in Lake Charles with co-defendant Christopher Gass.
The business was utilized as a distribution point for the anabolic steroids. Berza also delivered and mailed steroids to many of his distributors. All monies seized by law enforcement from Berza's residence and financial accounts registered to Berza and Gassrepresent drug proceeds from the sale of anabolic steroids.
U. S. Attorney Stephanie Finley stated, "The type of steroids being trafficked in this case were dangerous. None of these defendants knew what was in the substances they were getting. Greed drove them to illegally import and sell steroids from China and Germany to anyone who would pay their price. Illegal steroid trafficking has some consequences, and our office will continue to prosecute those who participate in this type of illegal activity."
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, U. S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant UnitedStates Attorney J. Collin Sims.Defendant Date Sentenced Sentencing Details
Bryce Thomas Meaux 10/14/11 Two years in prison, a fine in the amount of $3,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Christopher Keith Gass 10/14/11 18 months in prison, a fine in the amount of $2,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Blake Meche 10/14/11 12 months, 1 day and three years supervised release.
Canien Lee Matte 10/14/11 Six months in prison, a fine in the amount of $5,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Terry Duane Kuykendall 10/14/11 Six months in prison and three years supervised release.
Tyler Jordan Kuykendall 10/14/11 Two years probation.
Daniel Kent Bosely 10/05/11 Three years of probation, a fine in the amount of $1,200.00 and 200 hours of community service.
Troy Newton Broussard 10/14/11 Six months in prison and three years supervised release.
Shane Patrick Hinton 10/14/11 Six months in prison, a fine in the amount of $2,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Shayne Keith Weekly 10/14/11 Six months in prison and three years supervised release.
kplctv.com/story/15895521/berza-sentenced-for-steroid-distribution-conspiracy-money-laundering
Berza, 26, of Lake Charles, La., was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by three years supervised release. The judge also ordered Berza to pay a $12,000.00 fine. In lieu of the seizure of property that was purchased with drug money, the defendant will pay a lump sum of $15,000.00 to the government which is in addition to the $12,000.00 fine. Ten defendants have previously been sentenced (listed on pages 2 and 3), with the remaining defendant, Ronald Lee Bert Fontenot, 23, of Eunice, La., scheduled for sentencing on December 1, 2011.
According to court testimony, Berza was the leader of the drug trafficking organization which was responsible for receiving several hundred ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of anabolic steroids, numerous packages of anabolic steroid cream, and approximately 35 kilograms of raw steroid powder which was shipped from China and Germany.
Once the internationally shipped packages of anabolic steroid powder were received by members of the organization, the powder was then converted into an injectable form,bottled, labeled for distribution, and sold. The organization sold the steroids to individuals located in the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana and Texas. In total, approximately 7,000 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of steroids were manufactured, possessed, and distributed by the group. More than 600 ten milliliter (10 ml) vials of steroids were seized from the defendants through undercover purchases, traffic stops and search warrants. Agents also seized hundreds of empty vials, caps, syringes, three clandestine laboratories, and approximately one kilogram of raw steroid powder.
Approximately $93,000.00 was seized from members of the organization, the majority of which came from bank seizures on accounts belonging to Jordan Berza and Christopher Gass, to include $13,000.00 in cash seized from the residence of Berza. Berza was the co-owner of Planet Nutrition in Lake Charles with co-defendant Christopher Gass.
The business was utilized as a distribution point for the anabolic steroids. Berza also delivered and mailed steroids to many of his distributors. All monies seized by law enforcement from Berza's residence and financial accounts registered to Berza and Gassrepresent drug proceeds from the sale of anabolic steroids.
U. S. Attorney Stephanie Finley stated, "The type of steroids being trafficked in this case were dangerous. None of these defendants knew what was in the substances they were getting. Greed drove them to illegally import and sell steroids from China and Germany to anyone who would pay their price. Illegal steroid trafficking has some consequences, and our office will continue to prosecute those who participate in this type of illegal activity."
The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, U. S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant UnitedStates Attorney J. Collin Sims.Defendant Date Sentenced Sentencing Details
Bryce Thomas Meaux 10/14/11 Two years in prison, a fine in the amount of $3,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Christopher Keith Gass 10/14/11 18 months in prison, a fine in the amount of $2,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Blake Meche 10/14/11 12 months, 1 day and three years supervised release.
Canien Lee Matte 10/14/11 Six months in prison, a fine in the amount of $5,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Terry Duane Kuykendall 10/14/11 Six months in prison and three years supervised release.
Tyler Jordan Kuykendall 10/14/11 Two years probation.
Daniel Kent Bosely 10/05/11 Three years of probation, a fine in the amount of $1,200.00 and 200 hours of community service.
Troy Newton Broussard 10/14/11 Six months in prison and three years supervised release.
Shane Patrick Hinton 10/14/11 Six months in prison, a fine in the amount of $2,000.00 and three years supervised release.
Shayne Keith Weekly 10/14/11 Six months in prison and three years supervised release.
kplctv.com/story/15895521/berza-sentenced-for-steroid-distribution-conspiracy-money-laundering
