Aaron Vincent Schweidler, 32, of Smithfield, N.C., formerly of Weston, Mo., admitted today in federal court to running a $2.25 million anabolic steroid trafficking operation over the Internet, using stolen identities and prepaid debit cards to launder millions in illicit proceeds. Schweidler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids and to conspiracy to commit money laundering before U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays.
Schweidler was the architect of Power Trip, an online syndicate that shipped performance-enhancing drugs to customers across the U.S., including minors and amateur athletes. From late 2011 until its takedown, the operation moved through Utah, North Carolina, and finally the Kansas City, Mo., area, constantly shifting bases to evade law enforcement. He admitted to overseeing the production, distribution, and financial concealment schemes that kept the black-market business running.
Customers were required to pay using prepaid debit cards — such as Green Dot MoneyPak, MyVanilla, ReloadIT, NetSpend ReloadIT, and BlackHawk — linked to stolen identities. These cards were used to mask the flow of drug money. Payments funneled through MoneyGram and Western Union were also common, with over $176,000 in proceeds sent directly to China to buy raw steroid ingredients. The scheme exploited financial systems designed for everyday consumers to fuel a high-output underground drug lab.
Schweidler didn’t act alone. Co-defendants Nicole R. Lyne, 26, also of Smithfield, N.C., Michael G. Peters, 27, of Pelham, N.H., and Samuel C. Miller IV, 30, of Annapolis, Md., have all pleaded guilty. Peters started as a money collector but evolved into a full partner — handling customer orders, shipping, and manufacturing. By 2014, he and Miller had taken over daily operations and moved the hub back to North Carolina in a calculated bid to disappear.
According to seized evidence, including a detailed steroid recipe notebook, the conspiracy produced over 60,000 dosage units of Testosterone Propionate, Halotestin, and other controlled substances. Raw material purchases totaling approximately $200,000 — minus shipping — could yield nearly 1 million grams of product, enough to supply a nationwide network of users and dealers.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service. Sentencing for Schweidler is pending, but the charges carry substantial prison time, marking a significant blow to a digital-age drug operation that exploited e-commerce and financial anonymity to thrive.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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