SAN ANTONIO, TX – Two New Braunfels men are facing federal prison time after admitting to a cynical scheme: importing dangerous, unregulated drugs from China and peddling them across the United States as “research chemicals.” Evan Asher Field, 42, and Michael Dominic Diaz, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and traffic in misbranded drugs, a charge that carries a maximum five-year sentence.
The operation, launched in September 2019, centered around a website created by Field. He and Diaz purchased bulk quantities of substances, including synthetic opioids and benzodiazepines – drugs known for their potential for abuse and overdose – directly from sources in China. These weren’t prescription medications subject to FDA oversight; they were unapproved, untested chemicals repackaged and sold to unsuspecting customers.
Despite the legally-convenient disclaimer plastered on the website and packaging – “for research purposes only,” “not for human consumption” – both men knew full well their customers weren’t conducting legitimate scientific studies. They were buying the drugs to get high, and Field and Diaz were profiting from it. When the first website was shut down in September 2021, Diaz didn’t skip a beat, launching a nearly identical operation to continue the flow of dangerous substances.
The U.S. Secret Service, alongside the FDA and DEA, brought the operation to light. Agents discovered the pair, aided by unnamed “employee co-conspirators,” were actively repackaging the imported chemicals into consumer-sized containers and shipping them nationwide. The potential consequences of consuming these misbranded drugs are severe, ranging from toxic reactions to fatal overdoses.
Both Field and Diaz each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 8, 2023, before a federal district court judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors when determining their fate. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung and Amy Hail, utilizing resources from the Dark Market and Digital Currency Crimes (DMDCC) Task Force – a multi-agency collaboration designed to combat online criminal activity.
The DMDCC Task Force, a joint effort involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the Secret Service, Postal Inspection Service, FDA, IRS-Criminal Investigation, DEA, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and several police departments, demonstrates the growing need for interagency cooperation in tackling the evolving landscape of online fraud and drug trafficking. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux of the DEA’s Houston Field Office announced the guilty pleas.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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