Blackstone Labs, PJ Braun, Aaron Singerman Charged in Illegal Dietary Supplement Scheme

[Michael Scally MD]

Six Individuals and Two Companies Charged in Illegal Dietary Supplement Scheme
Six Individuals and Two Companies Charged in Illegal Dietary Supplement Scheme

Six people and two Florida corporations were charged in an indictment for their roles in a scheme to distribute illegal dietary supplements, the Department of Justice announced today.

Phillip Braun, 38, of Boca Raton, Florida, Aaron Singerman, 39, of Delray Beach, Florida, Robert DiMaggio, 49, of Henderson, Nevada, Anthony Ventrella, 41, of Boynton Beach, Florida, David Winsauer, 32, of Boca Raton, Florida, and James Boccuzzi, 34, of Parkland, Florida, were charged in a 14-count indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury in Miami, Florida on March 7, 2019, and was unsealed today. The indictment also charged Blackstone Labs and Ventech Labs, two Florida limited liability companies in Palm Beach County, Florida.

The indictment alleges that the defendants sold hundreds of thousands of illegal products, including anabolic steroids, nationwide and internationally, fraudulently representing that those products and pills were high-quality, legal dietary supplements. According to the indictment, the defendants created an illicit manufacturing company and routed sales of illegal products through trusted distributors, knowing that the products were unsafe or could not legally be sold to consumers.

 

[Savagesteve]

I wonder if Jon Jones was using their “supplements”?

 

[balco]

This is crazy, the owner of Blackstone labs has been releasing mini documentary talking about how this happened in the past and the company had recovered from it.

 

[VaDImadi]

Its PJ Braun and Aaron Singerman

 

[Demondosage]

What's the difference between supplements and designer steroids anymore anyways? Kind of a bullshit charge IMO. The difference between dbol powder and supplement is vast, but why aren't they saying what the compounds actually are yet? It's a witch hunt for bullshit, that's why

 

[Millard]

PJ BRAUN

• Count: 1
  18:371 - CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
  Max Penalty: Five (5) years' imprisonment

• Count: 2-3
  21:331(d),355(a), & 333(a)(2) - Introduction of Unapproved New Drugs into Interstate Commerce
  Max Penalty: Three (3) years' imprisonment to each count

• Count: 4
  21:846 - CONSPIRACY DISTRIBUTE CONTRL SUBSTANCES
  Max Penalty: Fifteen (15) years' imprisonment

• Count: 5,6,7
  21:841 - CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SELL/DISTR/DISPENSE
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment to each count

• Count: 12,13,14
  18:1957 - Money Laundering
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment to each count

AARON SINGERMAN

• Count: 1
  18:371 - CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
  Max Penalty: Five (5) years' imprisonment

• Count: 2-3
  21:331(d),355(a), & 333(a)(2) - Introduction of Unapproved New Drugs into Interstate Commerce
  Max Penalty: Three (3) years' imprisonment to each count

• Count: 4
  21:846 - CONSPIRACY DISTRIBUTE CONTRL SUBSTANCES
  Max Penalty: Fifteen (15) years' imprisonment

• Count: 5
  21:841 - CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SELL/DISTR/DISPENSE
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment

• Count: 9,10,11
  18:1957 - Money Laundering
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment to each count

ROBERT DIMAGGIO

• Count: 1
  18:371 - CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
  Max Penalty: Five (5) years' imprisonment

 

[SmallWoody]

Damn. I used Blackstone labs about 2 years ago ish if I can recall. That sucks

 

[Millard]

What's the difference between supplements and designer steroids anymore anyways? Kind of a bullshit charge IMO. The difference between dbol powder and supplement is vast, but why aren't they saying what the compounds actually are yet? It's a witch hunt for bullshit, that's why

It was very clear. I guess you missed it:

ostarine, picamilon, trendione, halodrol, epistane, methylstenbolone, dimethazine, and methyl-1-etiocholenolol

 

[Dead]

I just posted about methyl 1 the other day ... fuck this fuckin stupid as government and all those corrupt fat fuckin lazy pieces of fucking waste “defraud the United States” get the fuck out of here

 

[Demondosage]

It was very clear. I guess you missed it:

ostarine, picamilon, trendione, halodrol, epistane, methylstenbolone, dimethazine, and methyl-1-etiocholenolol

But there are so many companies still selling these. They simply make examples out of the larger companies. I know a nutrition store here that sells all of that shit, he's just not big enough to give a fuck abt yet

 

[Millard]

It was very clear. I guess you missed it:

ostarine, picamilon, trendione, halodrol, epistane, methylstenbolone, dimethazine, and methyl-1-etiocholenolol

Damn. I used Blackstone labs about 2 years ago ish if I can recall. That sucks

The specific Blackstone Labs products cited in the indictment include:

• Super DMZ Rx 2.0,
• Alpha-1 Max,
• Ostapure,
• Ostapro,
• PCT IV,
• Angel Dust,
• AMP Citrate and
• Euphoria Rx.

 

[Demondosage]

The specific Blackstone Labs products cited in the indictment include:

• Super DMZ Rx 2.0,
• Alpha-1 Max,
• Ostapure,
• Ostapro,
• PCT IV,
• Angel Dust,
• AMP Citrate and
• Euphoria Rx.

Angel dust was the shit

 

[Millard]

But there are so many companies still selling these. They simply make examples out of the larger companies. I know a nutrition store here that sells all of that shit, he's just not big enough to give a fuck abt yet

The feds made examples of a lot of smaller supplements companies on similar charges long before going after Blackstone Labs. Those smaller companies were wondering how Blackstone (and other large companies) were getting away with it.

 

[Dead]

And this is recent? Where were they still selling alpha 1 and super dmz 2

 

[Millard]

And this is recent? Where were they still selling alpha 1 and super dmz 2

The indictment is recent. The charges involve activities that took place beginning in 2012.

Blackstone Labs apparently stopped selling DMZ in 2015. But the feds allege that the defendants created other companies to secretly sell DMZ in 2016, 2017... First, Fight Pharm, then VBS, then Ventech.

 

[Millard]

Blackstone Labs says the government is lying... and all of its products are "wholesome, beneficial, and safe for the body" and they "fully comply with the law"...

BLACKSTONE LABS RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENTS SALACIOUS CHARGES AND VOWS TO FIGHT BACK!
March 14, 2019

BOCA RATON, FL., March 14, 2019 -- Blackstone Labs responds to the Government’s false and inaccurate charges against it and several Team Blackstone members by assuring all its worldwide customers it intends to vigorously defend the right of health conscious strength athletes, bodybuilders, and wellness professionals to access and use nutritional supplements that assist in muscle development and body tone. The indictment does not challenge any of Blackstone Labs' current product formulations. At all times, Blackstone has worked diligently to identify nutritional supplements that are wholesome, beneficial, and safe for the body, and it has promoted only products that fully comply with the law and prevailing practices. Blackstone Labs remains open for business.

It is Blackstone’s belief that the government is overreaching in this case because of its ongoing, wrong-headed attack on strength and bodybuilding athletes and the nutritional supplement industry. These false charges are no different from the allegations brought against the dietary ingredient Picamilon, a compound made from the naturally occurring dietary ingredients niacin and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Totally ignored by the Government in its assault on the supplement industry is the clear directive of the Food & Drug Act definition of a “dietary supplement” as a product (besides tobacco) that is “intended to supplement the diet” and that contains one or more of the following “dietary ingredients”: (A) a vitamin; (B) a mineral; (C) an herb or other botanical; (D) an amino acid; (E) a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake; or (F) a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any ingredient described in clause (A), (B), (C), (D), or (E). Picamilon is clearly a dietary supplement and not illegal as it is a product combining a vitamin (niacin) and an amino acid (gamma-aminobutyric acid). Prominent health scientists have confirmed this fact.

Blackstone is fighting back for itself and all its loyal customers and all consumers. This is not our first battle against Government overreach. In October 2018, Blackstone’s lawyers sued the federal government for the return of the seizure of lawful dietary supplements from Blackstone’s warehouse, charging that prosecutors were abusing their power by attempting to force Blackstone to surrender its First Amendment right to distribute lawful dietary supplements.

Blackstone Labs, several of its key executives, including CEO PJ Braun, and former employees declared this week that they are prepared to battle the federal government over the sale and distribution of its dietary supplements. “The government intends to destroy the weight lifting industry by making it hard for lifters to use legal nutritional supplements,” said Blackstone. “That will not happen,” proclaimed Blackstone CEO PJ Braun. “We intend to prevail” against the federal government in our righteous defense of the industry,” according to Mr. Braun.

Source: Blackstone Labs Responds to Governments Salacious Charges and Vows to Fight Back!​

 

[MisterSuperGod]

PJ BRAUN

• Count: 1
  18:371 - CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
  Max Penalty: Five (5) years' imprisonment

• Count: 2-3
  21:331(d),355(a), & 333(a)(2) - Introduction of Unapproved New Drugs into Interstate Commerce
  Max Penalty: Three (3) years' imprisonment to each count

• Count: 4
  21:846 - CONSPIRACY DISTRIBUTE CONTRL SUBSTANCES
  Max Penalty: Fifteen (15) years' imprisonment

• Count: 5,6,7
  21:841 - CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SELL/DISTR/DISPENSE
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment to each count

• Count: 12,13,14
  18:1957 - Money Laundering
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment to each count

AARON SINGERMAN

• Count: 1
  18:371 - CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
  Max Penalty: Five (5) years' imprisonment

• Count: 2-3
  21:331(d),355(a), & 333(a)(2) - Introduction of Unapproved New Drugs into Interstate Commerce
  Max Penalty: Three (3) years' imprisonment to each count

• Count: 4
  21:846 - CONSPIRACY DISTRIBUTE CONTRL SUBSTANCES
  Max Penalty: Fifteen (15) years' imprisonment

• Count: 5
  21:841 - CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES SELL/DISTR/DISPENSE
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment

• Count: 9,10,11
  18:1957 - Money Laundering
  Max Penalty: Ten (10) years' imprisonment to each count

ROBERT DIMAGGIO

• Count: 1
  18:371 - CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
  Max Penalty: Five (5) years' imprisonment

Correct me if i'm misunderstanding what you've posted. He (Braun) could face 86 years in prison, should he be convicted of all charges and given the maximum penalty for each!?

This is absolutely insane. i know that charges can be dropped and reduced and he probably wouldn't see 86 years, but c'mon.

Do violent offenders even get threatened with that much time?

 

[Xlgx]

Scamming bozos had it coming

 

[T-Bagger]

Do violent offenders even get threatened with that much time?

Murderers and rapists get out in 3-4 years. Pathetic bullshit.

 

[brutus79]

Murderers and rapists get out in 3-4 years. Pathetic bullshit.

Not for nothing- but selling anabolic substances that can cause a myriad of issues- stunting hormonal growth, gyno, vicious scarring acne, etc marketed to kids with no real emphasis or ability to do a proper post cycle is not selling vitamin c. You want to lament sentencing guidelines the real travesty is that weed is a schedule 1 narcotic and getting caught with a half pound in more than 1 bag can net you 15 years federal time when the worst thing your sales did to anyone was make them eat too many chips.

Showing all these years has shock value but a public defender could get this shit run concurrently, and anyone doing this will have no problem serving up their biggest distributors on a silver platter.

Being someone who just started jabbing needles of gear on the advice of a big guy in the gym I can say that the harm that can come to someone when putting random shit in their body without knowing the risks, side effects both long and short term and suggested means of recovery is pretty extensive. Some dipshit 18 year old kid getting a bottle of some of this shit in a store could be setting himself up to be sterile with ed for the rest of his life. I'm sure that wasnt made clear and I am sure these guys made a ton of cash knowing what they were doing. I believe laws have been passed where even if the specific compound isn't illegal if it performs certain functions in the body it is illegal by default... and I am sure they knew that too. Dont feel too bad for them- they decided to deal drugs in public strip malls with big signs.