Local Michigan bodybuilder, Joshua Ford, along with five others were charged with smuggling drugs into the U.S.
RETRACTION – A previous edition of this story falsely identified Joshua Ford using his image with a separate individual unidentified with the charges described. We have taken swift action to correct our error. We have removed the incorrect photo and references to IFBB pro bodybuilder Josh Ford. The remainder of the story still stands as correct as per the Department of Justice report.
A Michigan bodybuilder has been charged for his part in a drug smuggling scheme that brought illegal substances into the U.S. Joshua Ford, from Troy, was allegedly involved in a venture with four other men that was centered around drugs that treat effects of steroids.
Federal investigators said that they tracked at least $12 million, accepted in cryptocurrency and Bitcoin, along with other forms of digital pay. Once the payments were received, the funds were sent to accounts that were linked to one of the suspects. This is when they would be covered to the co-conspirators.
The individuals were arraigned last week for their part in the scheme. All members face up to five years in prison along with fines that can reach $250,000.
The U.S. Department of Justice explained that websites were setup advertising the drugs. This broke down the products into fur categories based on where they were shipped. There was a section labeled “USA Products” and this offered three-day shipping to the country.
“According to the indictment, if customers elected to pay using an alternative form of payment, rather than Bitcoin or another form of cryptocurrency, co-conspirators directed payments through accounts linked to defendant James Funaro. The indictment alleges that Funaro then converted the proceeds of the scheme into cryptocurrency before they were moved to accounts held by other co-conspirators, including foreign nationals residing overseas. Overall, investigators traced at least $12 million in proceeds to the drug smuggling scheme.”
The drugs that were being distributed were used to treat the effects of steroids. This would help to work against the short-term effects that steroid users have been through. The drugs would be re-packaged and sent to customers who placed the order. These products were shipped from other countries and falsely declared as other products. They would be broken down by other distributors before sent out to those who bought them.
The DOJ claimed that one website was created back in September 2018. There was another website made in March 2020. This is when Ford received packages that contained bulk quantities of prescription drugs. In 2018, the sale of the drugs was advertised without the need of a written prescription.
The website selling the drugs has been seized by the United States Postal Inspection Service. The five defendants will be arraigned in U.S. District Count for the Western District of Michigan on March 21.
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