JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 28-year-old personal trainer and father is behind bars awaiting trial after investigators said he was caught running a massive, complex steroid ring out of his Jacksonville home.
Gregory Allen Baker and four others were arrested after a two-year federal investigation that started in 2014 with an anonymous tip, court documents say.
Baker is accused of importing raw materials to manufacture steroids, human growth hormone and other illegal drugs.
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He purchased enough raw steroid powder from a supplier in China to produce more than 1.5 million units, which is on top of pills, liquid steroids and HGH imported from overseas, a court order in the case said.
Investigators believe that Baker used his personal training business as a front for the steroid operation, which supplied drugs to bodybuilders and semi-professional athletes under the name “Axio Labs,” the order said.
When the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency started its investigation into Baker, agents immediately noticed that it appeared the man was living well above his means.
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“Mr. Baker’s purported employment and daily activities did not account for the lavish lifestyle he lived,” the court order said. “He built a $550,000 home and provided a $134,000 down payment.”
Baker’s postal carrier told investigators that he received packages from China on nearly a daily basis.
When Baker’s home was raided in February, agents reported finding multiple firearms, luxury cars and a $12,500 electric golf cart.
Even after the warrants were served on his home, Baker, who had hired an attorney, continued to import materials to produce steroids, officials said.
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In all, Baker purchased $250,000 worth of steroids and steroid materials after the warrants were served, court documents said.
He allegedly used surrogates to send Western Union payments to pay for the steroids and received payments for the drugs through his girlfriend’s PayPal account, investigators said.
The situation with Baker’s steroid business was getting out of hand, the anonymous source told officials.
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“The tipster reported (Baker’s) girlfriend, Ashley, is scared he will kill or hurt someone because of the conditions under which the steroids are made … and he threatens to take their child away if she does not do what he says,” the court order said.
The document did not say if the “Ashley” referenced by the tipster was the same as Ashley Hinson, 27, one of Baker’s alleged co-conspirators.
As he was facing numerous serious charges that could result in up to 140 years in federal prison, prosecutors argued Baker was a flight risk and the judge in the case ordered him held without bond.
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Hinson; married couple William Peter Wagner, 25, and Heather Marie Wagner, 30; and Elijah Adams, were also arrested in connection with the case and have been released on bond, court documents show.
All five were charged with conspiracy to import controlled substances, conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute human growth hormone, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and international transportation of monetary instruments.
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Hinson, Heather Wagner and Baker were also charged with importation of a controlled substance; Baker and William Wagner were also charged with possession with intent to distribute human growth hormone; and Baker was charged with three additional counts of international transportation of monetary instruments.
Cox Media Group
