Whistleblower Who Brought Down Axio Labs Owner is Charged with Robbery

Brian Wainstein, the mastermind behind the Axio Labs underground steroid lab, was arrested in South Africa on January 19, 2013 after police responded to a “noise” complaint by a Parksland man. The police happened to recognize Wainstein as a fugitive on Interpol's Wanted List. If the man had not called police to complain, Wainstein would have continued to elude authorities indefinitely.

Wainstain was on Interpol's wanted list facing several counts of anabolic steroid and human growth hormone distribution, money laundering and forgery in multiple countries around the world. Law enforcement officials in the United States, Canada and Germany all had outstanding warrants for his arrest.

Federal prosecutors in the United States have alleged that Wainstein's steroid operation (Axio Labs) generated proceeds in excess of $8 million during a four-year period between 2004 and 2008. So, Wainstein was obviously major target in the U.S. international war on steroids.

The whistleblower who filed the noise complaint was clearly instrumental in capturing Wainstein. Surely, there must be a reward for helping catch such a highly-sought criminal? Certainly, police are concerned about protecting the man's identity? Wrong. 

Instead, prosecutors have decided to bring Robert Matthey in front of the Cape Town Magistrate's Court and charge him with robbery in an incident related to the Wainstein bust.

You see, one of Wainstein's friends recognized Matthey as the man who called police. The friend decided to snap several pictures of Matthey with a camera-enabled smartphone. Matthey didn't appreciate this and took the phone in order to delete the pictures. 

Wainstein's friend got the last laugh as he decided to press robbery charges against Matthey for stealing the phone. 

Bail was set at 3,000 South African Rand (or approximately $327 US dollars) for Matthey. As a condition of bail, Matthey is prohibited from contacting Wainstein's friend or even setting foot in the business or residential premises of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town where the incident took place.

Wainstein is also hanging out at home in the luxurious V&A Waterfront complex while free on bail and awaiting the outcome of his extradition hearing. His attorney is vigorously fighting extradition to the United States where he faces significant prison time if convicted.