Operation Bad Mussels has concluded with the sentencing of the remaining defendants indicted for their participation in one of the largest steroid enforcement investigations in Arizona. During the investigation, agents identified members who assisted in the production and delivery of steroids, the receipt of multiple parcels containing raw steroid materials from China and the collection of bulk currency and wire transfers from the organization’s customer base.
In addition to the drug trafficking charges, several defendants were sentenced for their role in money laundering activities stemming from the financial investigation supported by the Internal Revenue Service.
The following sentences were announced:
Blaine Jared Radke: Pled guilty to Conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids (21USC846), Possession with Intent to Distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 841(a)(1) & 21 USC 841(b)(1)(E)) and Money Laundering (18 USC 1956(H)); Radke was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 3 years supervised release.
Ismael Gonzalez: Pled guilty to Money Laundering (18 USC 1956(H)) and was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and 3 years supervised release; after completion of his sentence, Gonzalez will be remanded to CBP for deportation to Mexico.
Joshua Ryan Leno: Pled guilty to Money Laundering (18 USC 1956(H)) and was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release.
Gregory A. Chambers: Pled guilty to Conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 846) and Possession with Intent to Distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 841(a)(1) & 21 USC 841(b)(1)(E)); Chambers was sentenced to 5 years probation.
Chad Vincent Desjarlais: Pled guilty to Conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 846) and Possession with Intent to Distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 841(a)(1) & 21 USC 841(b)(1)(E)); Desjarlais was sentenced to 5 years probation.
Duane McGill: Pled guilty to Conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 846) and Possession with Intent to Distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 841(a)(1) & 21 USC 841(b)(1)(E)); McGill was sentenced to 5 years probation.
Dena Jo Olson: Pled guilty to Conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 846) and Possession with Intent to Distribute anabolic steroids (21 USC 841(a)(1) & 21 USC 841(b)(1)(E)); Olson was sentenced to 5 years probation.
Kanisha Stewart: Pled guilty to Money Laundering (18 USC 1956(H)) and was remanded to pre-trial services to serve one year on probation. Stewart’s charges will be dismissed upon successful completion of this probation term.
The investigative efforts in Operation Bad Mussels were led by DEA’s TDS with assistance from the United States Postal Inspector’s Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Mesa Police Department (MPD), Surprise Police Department (SPD) and its SWAT Team, the National Drug Intelligence Center Document and Media Exploitation (DOMEX) and the Franklin Police Department in Franklin, TN. Assistance was also provided by the DEA Atlanta Field Division, the St. Louis Field Division, and the Miami Field Division.