North Carolina Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Anabolic Steroids

Peter J. Smith, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; George Venizelos, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Philadelphia Division; Vito Guarino, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Philadelphia Field Division; and Keith Fixel, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Charlotte, North Carolina Division, jointly announced that an information was filed today charging Adrian Domnas, 41, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, section 846.

Domnas faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000.

This case arose as part of an 18-month online undercover investigation conducted by the FBI, DEA, and Postal Inspection Service targeting steroid forums used to unlawfully produce and distribute black market pharmaceuticals. Domnas shipped steroids through the mail to undercover investigators in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on multiple occasions. The investigation resulted in the seizure of drug trafficking proceeds and tens of thousands of units of anabolic steroids. The investigation also resulted in the prosecution of persons in multiple federal judicial districts. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William S. Houser.

An indictment or information is not evidence of guilt but simply a description of the charge made by the grand jury and/or United States Attorney against a defendant. A charged defendant is presumed innocent until a jury returns a unanimous finding that the United States has proven the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt or until the defendant has pled guilty to the charges.