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Trailer Park Labs: Owner and Operator of Freedom Pharma Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing and Distributing Anabolic Steroids
William Bagwell pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing and distributing anabolic steroids during an appearance in the United States District Court in Clarksburg, West Virginia on October 11, 2016. Bagwell was the owner and operator of “Freedom Pharma”, a domestic underground lab (UGL) that manufactured anabolic steroids from raw steroid powder obtained from China. Bagwell and two of his “employees” were indicted on various felony steroid-related charges in July 2016.
Freedom Pharma's clandestine underground laboratories were sometimes set up in Florida trailer parks which certain didn't meet FDA standards. The federal government wanted to make it clear that “Freedom Pharma” was not registered as an approved drug manufacturer with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Metro Washington Office, conducted an investigation into Freedom Pharma. McCormack emphasized that the FDA requires that steroids must be manufactured under certain strict government requirements.
“Distributing unapproved and misbranded prescription drugs is illegal and puts American consumers at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge McCormack. “Our office is fully committed to working with the Department of Justice to assure that drugs are safe, effective, and are manufactured in FDA-registered and inspected facilities.”
Freedom Pharma was busted selling a variety of, obviously non-FDA approved, anabolic steroids and other ancillary bodybuilding-related drugs. These drugs included (Oral Turinabol) dehydrochloromethyltestosterone, (Masteron Enanthate) drostanolone enanthate, (Aromasin) exemestane, Dianabol (methandienone), Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate), Anavar (oxandrolone), Anadrol (oxymetholone), Viagra (sildenafil), Winstrol (stanozolol), Cialis (tadalafil), Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate), testosterone, and trenbolone.
“The drugs offered were typically those popular with bodybuilders to maximize the effects of their training – like anabolic steroids – as well as drugs that blunted the side effects of steroid abuse, such as the breast cancer drug tamoxifen,” according to the federal indictment.
The 45-year old Bagwell controlled the Freedom Pharma UGL from a home base in St. Petersburg, Florida. He employed Cole Leggett (of Clearwater, Florida) and Robert Nicholson-Gould (of Lexington, North Carolina) to help him distribute the performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Freedom Pharma sold steroids to customers throughout the United States from January 2013 until November 2015. It advertised the drugs on various bodybuilding forums. Bagwell corresponded with customers via email and offered various payment options. The payment options included the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, reloadable gift cards and “cash in mail”. Surprisingly, the federal indictment also listed “checks” as a payment option accepted by Freedom Pharma.
Bagwell faces a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
William Bagwell pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing and distributing anabolic steroids during an appearance in the United States District Court in Clarksburg, West Virginia on October 11, 2016. Bagwell was the owner and operator of “Freedom Pharma”, a domestic underground lab (UGL) that manufactured anabolic steroids from raw steroid powder obtained from China. Bagwell and two of his “employees” were indicted on various felony steroid-related charges in July 2016.
Freedom Pharma's clandestine underground laboratories were sometimes set up in Florida trailer parks which certain didn't meet FDA standards. The federal government wanted to make it clear that “Freedom Pharma” was not registered as an approved drug manufacturer with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ Metro Washington Office, conducted an investigation into Freedom Pharma. McCormack emphasized that the FDA requires that steroids must be manufactured under certain strict government requirements.
“Distributing unapproved and misbranded prescription drugs is illegal and puts American consumers at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge McCormack. “Our office is fully committed to working with the Department of Justice to assure that drugs are safe, effective, and are manufactured in FDA-registered and inspected facilities.”
Freedom Pharma was busted selling a variety of, obviously non-FDA approved, anabolic steroids and other ancillary bodybuilding-related drugs. These drugs included (Oral Turinabol) dehydrochloromethyltestosterone, (Masteron Enanthate) drostanolone enanthate, (Aromasin) exemestane, Dianabol (methandienone), Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate), Anavar (oxandrolone), Anadrol (oxymetholone), Viagra (sildenafil), Winstrol (stanozolol), Cialis (tadalafil), Nolvadex (tamoxifen citrate), testosterone, and trenbolone.
“The drugs offered were typically those popular with bodybuilders to maximize the effects of their training – like anabolic steroids – as well as drugs that blunted the side effects of steroid abuse, such as the breast cancer drug tamoxifen,” according to the federal indictment.
The 45-year old Bagwell controlled the Freedom Pharma UGL from a home base in St. Petersburg, Florida. He employed Cole Leggett (of Clearwater, Florida) and Robert Nicholson-Gould (of Lexington, North Carolina) to help him distribute the performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Freedom Pharma sold steroids to customers throughout the United States from January 2013 until November 2015. It advertised the drugs on various bodybuilding forums. Bagwell corresponded with customers via email and offered various payment options. The payment options included the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, reloadable gift cards and “cash in mail”. Surprisingly, the federal indictment also listed “checks” as a payment option accepted by Freedom Pharma.
Bagwell faces a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
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