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I went to school and played baseball and football with the Laubauch brothers. Fuckers were dumb as a box of rocks. I honestly have no idea how they accomplished this. It was the talk of the small town (10k) while I was visiting.
HARRISBURG - Four local men have been charged in an intercontinental steroid ring, including a county probation officer and his brother, who was pulling down an average profit of $16,000 a week selling the drugs, the state attorney general says.
Brian Laubach of Berwick and Paul Dougal of Bloomsburg were among those who allegedly imported raw materials from China that they used to fill caplets and cooked to fill vials so that the drugs could be injected, the state says. Laubach allegedly hid the proceeds in the name of his brother, Marc Laubach, a Columbia County probation officer who was also charged today.
Keith Kilgus of Danville allegedly picked up the packages that came in from China and delivered the materials to the three suppliers, as well as shipping packages for Laubach and others. Also charged in manufacturing the steroids is Richard Piccaretta, 49, who is listed as a former Montour County Prison guard.
Most of Laubach's alleged sales were online. He shipped up to 300 packages for profits of roughly $16,000 a week, the state says. A search warrant at Laubach's residence yielded more than 90,000 anabolic steroids pills, 2,800 vials, gallons of liquid anabolic steroids, "kilos" of raw anabolic steroids and $445,000 cash, charges say.
Materials to manufacture anabolic steroids were also seized at Dougal's residence, along with more than 10,000 pills and 112 vials of anabolic steroids, the state says. The estimated street value of all of the seized evidence is more than $500,000.
The ring operated out of Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, Luzerne and Lackawanna counties and shipped to dozens of states including Hawaii, according to the AG. Hundreds of thousands of pills were sold, the state says.
In all, 13 people were charged, including a probation officer and four current or former corrections officers.
The investigation, dubbed "Operation Gym Candy," began in April 2013. Of the 13 charged five are current or former probation or correction officers: Marc Laubach, a Columbia County Probation officer; Richard Piccarreta, a former Montour County Prison officer; Nick Baloga. a Lackawanna Prison guard; John Taffera, a Luzerne County Correctional Facility guard; and Pete Fisher, a Luzerne County Correctional Facility guard.
"It is particularly troubling that five of the people who participated in these rings have been entrusted by our citizens with overseeing parolees or guarding prisoners," said Attorney General Kane. "They worked every day with individuals who are paying the price for breaking the law. It is shameful that they decided to break the law themselves."
Investigators from the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations said members of the anabolic steroids rings used the drugs for their own personal use, and believe some took prescription drugs to alleviate pain associated with excessive exercise and weight lifting.
Below is a full list of the defendants and the charges against them:
o Brian Laubach, 36, 1225 5th Ave., Berwick, Columbia County, is charged with: two counts of manufacturing anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with the intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds; and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Marc Laubach, 36, 1225 5th Ave., Berwick, Columbia County, is charged with one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Paul Dougal, 31, 935 Country Club Road, Apt. 2, Bloomsburg, Columbia County, is charged with: one count of manufacturing anabolic steroids; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds; and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Keith Kilgus, 40, 600 Bloom St., Apt. 1, Danville, Montour County, is charged with: two counts of delivery of anabolic steroids; two counts of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of possession of anabolic steroids; two counts of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; and two counts corrupt organizations.
o Richard Piccarreta, 49, 75 Wood St., Plymouth, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of manufacturing anabolic steroids; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts corrupt organization; one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds; and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Brian Clarke, 24, 239 1st St., Hanover Township, Luzerne County, is charged with: four counts of delivery of anabolic steroids; four counts of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; four counts of possession of anabolic steroids; four counts of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Matt Vilanoski, 25, 833 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, Northumberland County, is charged with one count of possession of anabolic steroids.
o John Koch, 24, 505 Chestut St., Hanover Township, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids and two counts of corrupt organizations.
o Nick Baloga, 44, 2223 Capouse Ave., Scranton, Lackawanna County, is charged with: two counts possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; two counts of possession of anabolic steroids; two counts of conspiracy to deliver controlled substances; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Kyle Goyne, 23, 58 Brown St., Ashley, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o John Taffera, 39, 328 Highlark Drive, Larksville, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of delivery of a controlled substance; one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility;
o Sheree Senausky, 29, 169 Staub Road, Trucksville, Luzerne County, is charged with: three counts of delivery of a controlled substance; four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Pete Fischer, 54, 1 Brown St., Ashley, Luzerne County, is charged with one count of possession of anabolic steroids and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Kristen Pietrzyk, 27, 340 E. Broad St., Nanticoke, Luzerne County, is charged with: two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; two counts of delivery of a controlled substance; one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
HARRISBURG - Four local men have been charged in an intercontinental steroid ring, including a county probation officer and his brother, who was pulling down an average profit of $16,000 a week selling the drugs, the state attorney general says.
Brian Laubach of Berwick and Paul Dougal of Bloomsburg were among those who allegedly imported raw materials from China that they used to fill caplets and cooked to fill vials so that the drugs could be injected, the state says. Laubach allegedly hid the proceeds in the name of his brother, Marc Laubach, a Columbia County probation officer who was also charged today.
Keith Kilgus of Danville allegedly picked up the packages that came in from China and delivered the materials to the three suppliers, as well as shipping packages for Laubach and others. Also charged in manufacturing the steroids is Richard Piccaretta, 49, who is listed as a former Montour County Prison guard.
Most of Laubach's alleged sales were online. He shipped up to 300 packages for profits of roughly $16,000 a week, the state says. A search warrant at Laubach's residence yielded more than 90,000 anabolic steroids pills, 2,800 vials, gallons of liquid anabolic steroids, "kilos" of raw anabolic steroids and $445,000 cash, charges say.
Materials to manufacture anabolic steroids were also seized at Dougal's residence, along with more than 10,000 pills and 112 vials of anabolic steroids, the state says. The estimated street value of all of the seized evidence is more than $500,000.
The ring operated out of Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, Luzerne and Lackawanna counties and shipped to dozens of states including Hawaii, according to the AG. Hundreds of thousands of pills were sold, the state says.
In all, 13 people were charged, including a probation officer and four current or former corrections officers.
The investigation, dubbed "Operation Gym Candy," began in April 2013. Of the 13 charged five are current or former probation or correction officers: Marc Laubach, a Columbia County Probation officer; Richard Piccarreta, a former Montour County Prison officer; Nick Baloga. a Lackawanna Prison guard; John Taffera, a Luzerne County Correctional Facility guard; and Pete Fisher, a Luzerne County Correctional Facility guard.
"It is particularly troubling that five of the people who participated in these rings have been entrusted by our citizens with overseeing parolees or guarding prisoners," said Attorney General Kane. "They worked every day with individuals who are paying the price for breaking the law. It is shameful that they decided to break the law themselves."
Investigators from the Bureau of Narcotics Investigations said members of the anabolic steroids rings used the drugs for their own personal use, and believe some took prescription drugs to alleviate pain associated with excessive exercise and weight lifting.
Below is a full list of the defendants and the charges against them:
o Brian Laubach, 36, 1225 5th Ave., Berwick, Columbia County, is charged with: two counts of manufacturing anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with the intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds; and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Marc Laubach, 36, 1225 5th Ave., Berwick, Columbia County, is charged with one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Paul Dougal, 31, 935 Country Club Road, Apt. 2, Bloomsburg, Columbia County, is charged with: one count of manufacturing anabolic steroids; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds; and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Keith Kilgus, 40, 600 Bloom St., Apt. 1, Danville, Montour County, is charged with: two counts of delivery of anabolic steroids; two counts of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of possession of anabolic steroids; two counts of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; and two counts corrupt organizations.
o Richard Piccarreta, 49, 75 Wood St., Plymouth, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of manufacturing anabolic steroids; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts corrupt organization; one count of dealing in unlawful proceeds; and one count of conspiracy to deal in unlawful proceeds.
o Brian Clarke, 24, 239 1st St., Hanover Township, Luzerne County, is charged with: four counts of delivery of anabolic steroids; four counts of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; four counts of possession of anabolic steroids; four counts of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Matt Vilanoski, 25, 833 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, Northumberland County, is charged with one count of possession of anabolic steroids.
o John Koch, 24, 505 Chestut St., Hanover Township, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of delivery of anabolic steroids, one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids and two counts of corrupt organizations.
o Nick Baloga, 44, 2223 Capouse Ave., Scranton, Lackawanna County, is charged with: two counts possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; two counts of possession of anabolic steroids; two counts of conspiracy to deliver controlled substances; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Kyle Goyne, 23, 58 Brown St., Ashley, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of delivery of anabolic steroids; one count of possession with intent to deliver anabolic steroids; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o John Taffera, 39, 328 Highlark Drive, Larksville, Luzerne County, is charged with: one count of delivery of a controlled substance; one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; one count of possession of anabolic steroids; one count of conspiracy to deliver anabolic steroids; two counts corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility;
o Sheree Senausky, 29, 169 Staub Road, Trucksville, Luzerne County, is charged with: three counts of delivery of a controlled substance; four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; two counts of corrupt organizations; and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Pete Fischer, 54, 1 Brown St., Ashley, Luzerne County, is charged with one count of possession of anabolic steroids and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
o Kristen Pietrzyk, 27, 340 E. Broad St., Nanticoke, Luzerne County, is charged with: two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; two counts of delivery of a controlled substance; one count of illegal use of a communication facility.
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