Federal Prosecutors Recommend 11 Years in Prison for Musclehead320 as Leader of Onyx Pharma Counterfeit Steroid Lab

Tyler “White Pride” Bauman, also known as Musclehead320 on social media and bodybuilding forums,  pleaded guilty to various charges related to his operation of the Onyx Pharmaceuticals underground steroid laboratory (UGL). Under the terms of the plea agreement, federal prosecutors have recommended a prison sentence of 135 months (11 years and 3-months).

Bauman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute counterfeit anabolic steroids; conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit drugs; conspiracy to launder money; possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (anabolic steroids); and trafficking in counterfeit drugs in U.S. District Court in Boston on August 28, 2017.

The reference to counterfeit drugs did not mean that the steroids sold by Bauman were necessarily inactive or bogus. It only meant that Bauman counterfeited the Onyx Pharmaceuticals name and logo. The name and logo are registered trademarks that belong to the $120 billion pharmaceutical biotechnology behemoth known as Amgen.

Bauman had been marketing and selling counterfeit Onyx Pharma steroids via Instagram and elsewhere on the Internet. Bauman’s involement appeared obvious to several customers and many other participants on bodybuilding forums. However, Bauman vigorously denied that he had anything to do with steroid trafficking.

“And let's let the rumor die here that I am Onyx,” Musclehead320 claimed in forum postings. “I have many successful business that I would never put at risk being a drug dealer… As for me needing to sell steroids to bunch people on [Instagram] that's just crazy. I have shit tons of money and its not from having to sell steroids… I own tons of business buildings companys. Selling drugs yea that's cool when your 15.” (sic)

But when Amgen discovered that someone was selling counterfeit Onyx steroid products, its own private investigator quickly discovered that Bauman was behind the scheme. Amgen turned over the findings from its investigation to federal authorities.

Over the ensuing 18 months, federal investigators obtained overwhelming evidence implicating Bauman and the five co-conspirators working for him. Bauman was primarily in charge of social media, internet marketing, sales and customer service. Philip Goodwin was the “chemist” in charge of converting raw steroid powder into finished oral and injectable steroid products. Bauman’s fiancee Katie Green was largely responsible handling the money flow in the organization. Robert Medeiros was in charge of shipping product to customers. And Melissa Sclafani helped Bauman launder money through the Wicked Tan tanning salon. 

Many people have been surprised at the prosecutor’s recommendation of 135 months in prison as outlined in his plea agreement. The lengthy recommendation has less to do with the current steroid trafficking charges and more to due with the fact that Bauman has a relatively lengthy criminal history that includes a previous stint in prison for drug trafficking. For this reason, Bauman is considered a “career criminal” under federal sentencing guidelines.

Keep in mind that the 135-month prison sentence is only a recommendation. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of  U.S. District Court Senior Judge Douglas Woodlock. Bauman is scheduled to appear before Judge Woodlock on November 29, 2017.

Source:

DOJ. (August 28, 2017). Shrewsbury Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Counterfeit Steroid Scheme. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/shrewsbury-man-pleads-guilty-operating-counterfeit-steroid-scheme