Eighteen Charged In Steroid Trafficking Ring
ORLANDO, Fla. - A.D. Wright, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division, and A. Lee Bentley, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of (MDFL), announces the unsealing of an indictment charging the following persons with federal crimes involving steroid trafficking:
David Arroyo, a/k/a “Big D,” (40, Orlando)
Vincent Sperti, (36, Lake Mary)
John Walker, (41, Lake Mary)
Jeffrey Berrios, (43, Lake Mary)
Hunter Rawls, (36, Heathrow)
Jeffrey Walker, (22, Lake Mary)
Jason Bergstresser, (26, Longwood)
Christopher Eaddy, (43, Winter Springs)
Allison Eaddy, (32, Winter Springs)
John Erber, (41, Lake Mary)
Brea Tato, (40, Lake Mary)
Guillermo Otero, (31, Deltona)
David Centeno, (29, Sanford)
Steven Groden, (36, Lake Mary)
Melissa Sperti, (33, Lake Mary)
Eric Boccard, (41, Mount Dora)
Santiago Rios, (41, Deltona)
Robert Gonzalez, (42, Orlando)
David Arroyo, Vincent Sperti, John Walker, Jeffrey Berrios, Hunter Rawls, Jeffrey Walker, Jason Bergstresser, Christopher Eaddy, Allison Eaddy, John Erber, Brea Tato, Eric Boccard, and Robert Gonzalez are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
David Arroyo, Vincent Sperti, Guillermo Otero, David Centeno, Steven Groden, Melissa Sperti, and Santiago Rios are charged with conspiracy to conduct international money laundering. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking a money judgment in the amount of the proceeds of the drug trafficking and money laundering offenses.
According to the indictment, beginning in or about April 2012, and continuing through August 2014, the defendants operated a steroid drug trafficking conspiracy in central Florida, primarily in Seminole County, and were responsible for shipping illegal steroids throughout the US and internationally. The members of the conspiracy played various roles in the operation of the internet-based, steroid-trafficking operation - some as organizers, others as manufacturers and shippers, some who sent money to China for the purchase of raw steroids, and some who picked up the proceeds of the drugs sales. The group allegedly sold all types of illegal steroids, including oral capsules and oil-based injectable steroids. The orders were made through web sites maintained in foreign countries, and the steroids were processed and sent to customers from central Florida via US mail.
The indictment further alleges that members of the organization went to great lengths to disguise their participation in the receipt and distribution of illegal steroids and proceeds, including the use of fake names and false identities, the use of different postal facilities in Florida, South Carolina, and other states, and the use of Money Gram and Western Union to pick up money from the drugs sales at numerous locations throughout central Florida.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the DEA Orlando District Office, US Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the US Marshals Service. It will be prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the MDFL.
