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Two of the ringleaders in an international steroid and drug-trafficking ring that rented a Happy Valley apartment to manufacture and distribute the substances have been sentenced to multiple years in federal prison following a federal wiretap investigation.
Landon Britt, the kingpin, transferred more than $570,000 to Chinese chemical companies between 2006 and 2013, ordering powder anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and other related substances. Shipping records showed more than 65 shipments received by Britt and his associates.
Britt used wire transfers or international bank transfers to pay for the overseas steroid supplies.
Britt, together with Shane Jack, rented a Happy Valley apartment that they used as a manufacturing and stash site, where the anabolic steroid power was converted into liquid. There, they also prepared, packaged, marketed and distributed the steroids under a labeled brand called "Pharmagen'' to customers locally and across the United States.
Britt also ventured into the marijuana business with a significant grow operation on land he purchased in Selma. Investigators intercepted through wiretaps a phone call in which Britt spoke about conducting nighttime armed patrols of the Selma marijuana grow.
Britt, 31, and Jack, 53, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import, manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute steroids, marijuana, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, and conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Britt was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison last month.
On Friday morning, co-conspirator and body builder Jack, 53, was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and international money laundering.
Jack told the court he regretted his actions. His attorney said Jack began bodybuilding as a young teen to rebuff a bully, and fell "into this subculture'' in which other competitors and even competition judges told him that using steroids was part of the process.
"Mr. Jack saw steroids was prevalent, endemic in bodybuilding,'' assistant federal public defender Ruben Iniguez said. "He started taking it and he did very well.''
Iniguez argued that the drug distribution was by mail, and "wasn't on the street in dark shadowy cultures.''
While not the top guy in the operation, Jack was Britt's leading co-conspirator, prosecutors said. He distributed the steroids through the U.S. mail to locations across the United States. Because Jack had such steady customers, they'd deposit money directly into his bank accounts. He received more than half a million dollars in his account for the drug sales, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas H. Edmonds said. As a lucrative side business, Jack also was involved in selling a large amount of oxycodone pills in Portland, according to the prosecutor.
"You were in it up to your eyeballs,'' U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman told him. "I think you were heavily involved in something that was morally wrong, dangerous to your customers and harmful to society.'' It wasn't a one-time mistake, but lasted for at least six years, the judge noted.
"At the time, I didn't realize the harm I did. I've mostly hurt my family,'' Jack said, standing before the judge. "I know that I made a mistake. I'm not asking for any mercy – all I'm asking for is help. I'm truly sorry for what I did.''
He's to voluntarily surrender to federal prison on Feb. 18.
The two are among 15 defendants who were indicted in the criminal conspiracy case. Of the 15, 12 have been sentenced; three are awaiting sentencing. Jack's ex-wife, Georgia Jack, who helped with the manufacture of the steroids by filling vials and bottles with liquid steroids for sale at the Happy Valley apartment, got probation.
Another body builder , Bradley Hollibaugh, 49, who served as a distributor for Jack, was given six months home detention Friday for his more limited role.
Hollibaugh's lawyer, Laura Shertz, said her client brought a plastic bag full of medication to court because he's suffering from a reduction in his kidney functioning and other ailments
Shertz said she knows it might be hard to believe he's suffering physically because Hollibaugh, a bald muscular man with broad shoulders who stood beside her, still looks like "a mountain of a man.''
Shertz said Hollibaugh recently got hit up at his gym for steroids, and admonished the seller to stop what he was doing.
While Mosman said he doesn't consider the distribution of steroids as bad as the sale of methamphetamine, he said it's still very harmful to users.
"It's far below meth, but it's worth taking seriously,'' Mosman said. "Everyone who has taken it for a long time is in bad shape physically.''
Source: oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/01/leaders_of_portland-based_inte.html
Landon Britt, the kingpin, transferred more than $570,000 to Chinese chemical companies between 2006 and 2013, ordering powder anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and other related substances. Shipping records showed more than 65 shipments received by Britt and his associates.
Britt used wire transfers or international bank transfers to pay for the overseas steroid supplies.
Britt, together with Shane Jack, rented a Happy Valley apartment that they used as a manufacturing and stash site, where the anabolic steroid power was converted into liquid. There, they also prepared, packaged, marketed and distributed the steroids under a labeled brand called "Pharmagen'' to customers locally and across the United States.
Britt also ventured into the marijuana business with a significant grow operation on land he purchased in Selma. Investigators intercepted through wiretaps a phone call in which Britt spoke about conducting nighttime armed patrols of the Selma marijuana grow.
Britt, 31, and Jack, 53, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import, manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute steroids, marijuana, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, and conspiracy to commit international money laundering.
Britt was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison last month.
On Friday morning, co-conspirator and body builder Jack, 53, was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and international money laundering.
Jack told the court he regretted his actions. His attorney said Jack began bodybuilding as a young teen to rebuff a bully, and fell "into this subculture'' in which other competitors and even competition judges told him that using steroids was part of the process.
"Mr. Jack saw steroids was prevalent, endemic in bodybuilding,'' assistant federal public defender Ruben Iniguez said. "He started taking it and he did very well.''
Iniguez argued that the drug distribution was by mail, and "wasn't on the street in dark shadowy cultures.''
While not the top guy in the operation, Jack was Britt's leading co-conspirator, prosecutors said. He distributed the steroids through the U.S. mail to locations across the United States. Because Jack had such steady customers, they'd deposit money directly into his bank accounts. He received more than half a million dollars in his account for the drug sales, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas H. Edmonds said. As a lucrative side business, Jack also was involved in selling a large amount of oxycodone pills in Portland, according to the prosecutor.
"You were in it up to your eyeballs,'' U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Mosman told him. "I think you were heavily involved in something that was morally wrong, dangerous to your customers and harmful to society.'' It wasn't a one-time mistake, but lasted for at least six years, the judge noted.
"At the time, I didn't realize the harm I did. I've mostly hurt my family,'' Jack said, standing before the judge. "I know that I made a mistake. I'm not asking for any mercy – all I'm asking for is help. I'm truly sorry for what I did.''
He's to voluntarily surrender to federal prison on Feb. 18.
The two are among 15 defendants who were indicted in the criminal conspiracy case. Of the 15, 12 have been sentenced; three are awaiting sentencing. Jack's ex-wife, Georgia Jack, who helped with the manufacture of the steroids by filling vials and bottles with liquid steroids for sale at the Happy Valley apartment, got probation.
Another body builder , Bradley Hollibaugh, 49, who served as a distributor for Jack, was given six months home detention Friday for his more limited role.
Hollibaugh's lawyer, Laura Shertz, said her client brought a plastic bag full of medication to court because he's suffering from a reduction in his kidney functioning and other ailments
Shertz said she knows it might be hard to believe he's suffering physically because Hollibaugh, a bald muscular man with broad shoulders who stood beside her, still looks like "a mountain of a man.''
Shertz said Hollibaugh recently got hit up at his gym for steroids, and admonished the seller to stop what he was doing.
While Mosman said he doesn't consider the distribution of steroids as bad as the sale of methamphetamine, he said it's still very harmful to users.
"It's far below meth, but it's worth taking seriously,'' Mosman said. "Everyone who has taken it for a long time is in bad shape physically.''
Source: oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/01/leaders_of_portland-based_inte.html
