David Edward Retter and Jason Hobbs have been connected to the underground lab known as Hell Fire Labs. Mary Beth Buchanan and Mary Houghton, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, are prepared to files charges of conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids against up to four individuals in connection with Hell Fire Labs. These include David Retter (Vandergrift, Pennsylvania), Jason Hobbs aka “Heretic” (Auburn, Washington), Kris Mealer (Timbo, Arkansas), an individual thus far only identified as “Freak” (Indianaopolis, Indiana) (“Charges link Westmoreland lab with nationwide steroids sales,” May 13).
“I’ve never been in trouble before in my life,” Retter said. “Believe me, I’m no big steroid dealer.” […]
“I was out of the thing for 12 months before they even called me,” Retter said. The criminal information filed Monday against Retter accuses him of being part of the ring from May 2006 to February 2008. […]
Houghton said the lab equipment and products Mealer got from Vandergrift included steroid powders, bottles, seals, crimpers, flasks, glassware and heating plates. A co-conspirator known as “Freak,” who lives in Indianapolis, sent Mealer e-mail addresses for 250 customers, Houghton said.
The other accused member of the ring lived in Auburn, Wash., Houghton said.
Gym owner Kristen Mealer recently pleaded guilty to steroid conspiracy charges admitting to the distribution of 185,029 dosage units of various anabolic steroids under the Hell Fire Labs brand between January 2007 and February 2008. David Retter is accused of shipping laboratory equipment and supplies for a fully operational underground lab to Kristen Mealer in January 2007. Retter maintains that he does not know Kristen Mealer. Jason Hobbs aka “Heretic” appears to be the founder and original owner of Hell Fire Labs. Prosecutors have released very few details about the case in court documents.
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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