United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MIAMI - Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, announce that seven individuals have been charged with conspiring to distribute anabolic steroid testosterone to underage high school and professional athletes.

Charged in this investigation are Anthony Publio Bosch - , 50, of Key Biscayne, Carlos Javier Acevedo - , 35, of Miami, Yuri Sucart - , 52, of Miami, Jorge Augustine Velazquez - , a/k/a “Ugi,” 43, of Miami, Christopher Benjamin Engroba - , 25, of Miami, Lazaro Daniel Collazo - , a/k/a “Lazer” and “Laser,” 50, of Hialeah, and Juan Carlos Nuñez - , 48, of Fort Lauderdale. The charges stem from an over 21-month-long investigation by DEA, which focused on the illegal distribution of testosterone by the charged defendants in Miami-Dade County, and elsewhere. Specifically, the investigation focused on the operators of several anti-aging clinics in Miami, recruiters of these clinics, and a black market distributor of testosterone. These anti-aging clinics were incorporated under several different corporate names: Biogenesis of America, LLC; Biokem, LLC; Revive Miami, LLC; and others by the same group of people who occasionally worked together from 2008 through 2012.

In addition, the investigation also uncovered a separate conspiracy which involved Acevedo and the alleged illegal distribution of 3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-Methylcathinone Hydrochloride, a Schedule I controlled substance. The controlled substance 3,4-Methylenedioxy-N-Methylcathinone Hydrochloride is commonly referred to as “molly.” Charged in a separate case with conspiring to distribute molly are Giovanny Brenes - , 35, and Jorge Canela - , Jr., 25; and charged with attempted possession of molly is Carlos Luis Ruiz - , 34, all of Miami.

“Anthony Bosch, the self-acclaimed “Best Fake Doctor Ever” has turned in his lab coat for an orange jumpsuit,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Mark R. Trouville. “Mr. Bosch’s alleged actions were a danger to the minors and adults who consumed his concoctions. I’m so proud of the men and women of the DEA and our law enforcement partners who conducted this investigation, which focused on greedy drug traffickers, who exploited athletes of all ages for their personal gain.”

“The defendants charged today are alleged to have provided easy access to dangerous concoctions of performance enhancing (PEDs) to impressionable high school kids and professional athletes on the promise of playing better, recovering faster from injury and having more energy,” said U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer. “Bosch and his network of recruiters and black market suppliers ignored the serious health risks posed to their so-called “patients,” all for a profit. Simply put, doping children is unacceptable - it is not only wrong and illegal, but dangerous. Cheating doesn’t pay and individuals like Bosch and his co-defendants, who distributed PEDs to athletes and, more importantly, to our children, will be held accountable for their actions.”

The cases announced today include:

1. United States v. Anthony Publio Bosch, Case No. 14-20555-CR-Gayles -

Bosch was charged by information with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule III controlled substance, that is, the anabolic steroid testosterone, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. The conspiracy charge against Bosch alleges that beginning in at least October 2008 through December 2012, Bosch operated various anti-aging clinics in Miami. Through these anti-aging clinics, the defendant conspired with recruiters of high school and professional athletes, as well as a black market distributor of testosterone, to distribute testosterone in Miami-Dade County, and elsewhere. Many of Bosch’s clients thought he was a doctor. However, Bosch did not have a license to practice medicine in the State of Florida, or anywhere else, nor did he have any kind of license or authorization from the DEA to dispense or prescribe Schedule III drugs, like testosterone. Bosch is expected to be arraigned today.

If convicted, Bosch faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of 10 years in prison.

2. United States v. Carlos Javier Acevedo, Case No. 14-20556-CR-Gayles -

Acevedo was charged by information with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule III controlled substance, that is, the anabolic steroid testosterone, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; and with conspiracy to distribute molly, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. Acevedo is expected to be arraigned today.

If convicted, Acevedo faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy to distribute testosterone count and 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute molly count.

3. United States v. Yuri Sucart, et al., Case No. 14-20550-CR-Altonaga -

Yuri Sucart, Jorge Augustine Velazquez, a/k/a “Ugi,” Christopher Benjamin Engroba, Lazaro Daniel Collazo, a/k/a “Lazer” and “Laser,” and Juan Carlos Nuñez, were charged in an eight count indictment for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute a Schedule III controlled substance, that is, the anabolic steroid testosterone, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. In addition, Sucart has been charged with five counts of distribution of testosterone; Engroba has been charged with one count of distribution of testosterone; and Velazquez has been charged with six counts of distribution of testosterone, all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Velazquez was also charged with one count of obstruction of justice, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1503 and 2. The defendants are expected to be arraigned today.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible statutory sentence of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy to distribute testosterone count. As to the substantive distribution of steroids counts, Sucart, Velazquez and Engroba face a maximum possible statutory sentence of 10 years in prison as to each count. Velazquez faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of 10 years in prison on the obstruction of justice count.

4. United States v. Giovanny Brenes, et. al., Case No. 14-20551-CR-Moreno -

Giovanny Brenes and Jorge Canela, Jr. were charged in a four count indictment for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute molly, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. In addition, Brenes has been charged with one count of distribution of molly, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); Canela, Jr. has been charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute molly, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and Carlos Luis Ruiz was charged with one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 844(a) and Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.

If convicted, Brenes and Canela, Jr. face a maximum possible statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the following counts: conspiracy to distribute; distribution and possession with intent to distribute. Ruiz faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of one year in prison on the attempted possession of a controlled substance count.

This investigation was led by the DEA Miami Tactical Diversion Squad, which consists of the DEA, Miami-Dade Police Department, Hollywood Police Department, Fort Lauderdale Police Department and the City of Miami Police Department. These cases are being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.

An information and indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

View the Indictment for Anthony Publio Bosch >>
View the Indictment for Carlos Javier Acevedo >>
View the Indictment for Yuri Sucart, et al. >>