Shrewsbury Couple Sentenced For Counterfeit Steroid Ring

SHREWSBURY, MA – A Shrewsbury couple was sentenced in federal court Thursday for their roles in a multi-million dollar conspiracy to distribute counterfeit steroids across the country, authorities said. Tyler Bauman, 32, known on social media as "musclehead320," and Kathryn Green, 29, were part of a group that manufactured and marketed fake steroids under the label of a legitimate pharmaceutical company that does not make the drug, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Bauman pleaded guilty last August to conspiracy to distribute counterfeit testosterone, trenbolone and other steroid compounds; conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit drugs; conspiracy to launder money; possession with intent to distribute controlled substances (steroids); and trafficking in counterfeit drugs.

Green pleaded guilty that same month to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Five others were charged last year for their roles in the conspiracy, authorities said.

From May 2015 to April 2017, the group manufactured steroid products made from raw materials purchased overseas and marketed them as Onyx steroids, using labels that were bought from overseas suppliers, the USAO said. Onyx, owned by Amgen Inc., is a legitimate pharmaceutical company that does not manufacture steroids.

Using his following on Instagram and other social media platforms as "muscelhead320," Bauman promoted Onyx by claiming to be an "Onyx Sponsored Athlete," according to the USAO. He publicly denied being directly involved with making or selling the product while at the same time marketing Onyx injectable steroids through the Instagram accounts "onyx_roid" and "onyxpharma," authorities said.

Through those accounts, Bauman provided customers with email addresses under which he received orders and communicated with them about the product. The group, under Bauman's direction, shipped steroids to customers by mail and received payments through money remitters like Western Union and MoneyGram. Other members were then instructed to pick up payments at multiple remitter locations using false names in an attempt to avoid suspicion, authorities said.

Bauman bought both the oral steroids and the materials to make injectable steroids from overseas suppliers, as well as the Onyx labeling and packaging. He also laundered the profits through Wicked Tan LLC, a Beverly tanning salon owned by him and an accomplice, according to the USAO.

Green’s principal roles in the group were to pay another member to ship steroids and to collect payments from customers, authorities said.

Bauman was sentenced to 10 years of prison and three years of supervised release. Green was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release.

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