Canton Man Sentenced In Illegal Steroid Trafficking Case

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Four steroid distributors on Wednesday were sentenced for their part in trafficking in illegal anabolic steroids. The defendants were importing raw materials from China and selling the finished product online, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said.

“The use of illegal anabolic steroids is far from a harmless pursuit. They pose significant health risks,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Users of steroids could suffer kidney failure, liver damage, and younger users can even suffer heart attacks. Thankfully, USPIS and DEA agents put these distributors, who sent their illicit product across the country, out of business.”

The defendants, sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., are:

• Brandon Keith Franklin, 41, of Canton was sentenced to two years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Franklin was convicted Dec. 16, 2014, after he pleaded guilty. His luxury vehicles were also forfeited.
• Jay Michael Reger, 30, of Woodstock was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Reger was convicted Dec.16, 2014, after he pleaded guilty.
• Andrew Chrismer, 25, of Atlanta was sentenced to one year in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Chrismer was convicted June 25, 2014, after he pleaded guilty.
• Austin Britt Shirley, 25, of Acworth was sentenced to two years of probation. Shirley was convicted Sept. 25, 2014 after he pleaded guilty.

According to Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2013, Franklin and Reger began producing and selling anabolic steroids under the name Performance Formulations.

They received raw materials for the steroids from China and sold the finished product online. Franklin and Reger were partners in the operation: Franklin managed the website and Reger mixed the raw materials to create the finished product.

They hired Shirley and Chrismer to fill the orders. Shirley packed the orders while Chrismer mailed them. Franklin used the proceeds from his illegal steroid business to fund a lavish lifestyle, purchasing a number of luxury vehicles.

Shirley and Chrismer were arrested on May 28, 2014, when law enforcement agents with the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration seized tens of thousands of units of steroids from the organization. Franklin was arrested on Dec. 3, 2014.

Even after the seizures and arrests, Reger continued to manufacture steroids from his home in Woodstock until he was arrested on Dec. 10, 2014.

“Steroids pose a significant health risk to users seeking to artificially enhance their athletic abilities,” said Daniel R. Salter, the special agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented on the sentencings. “The mission of DEA is unwavering--we relentlessly pursue drug traffickers who distribute dangerous drugs that cause immeasurable damage to our communities.”

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