John A. Psehoyas, Anabolic Steroid Importation, MA 2024

BOSTON – A U.S. Postal Service employee is trading his uniform for an orange jumpsuit after being sentenced today for his role in a brazen anabolic steroid importation scheme. The case lays bare a disturbing pattern of abuse of power within a trusted federal institution.

John A. Psehoyas, 54, of Methuen, Massachusetts, received six months in federal prison from U.S. District Court Senior Judge Douglas P. Woodlock. The sentence also includes two years of supervised release and a hefty 200 hours of community service to be completed during that period. Psehoyas pleaded guilty on January 4, 2017, to one count of importation of a controlled substance – a charge that carries significant weight given the potential health risks associated with unregulated steroids.

Court documents reveal Psehoyas wasn’t just a mail carrier; he was a customer service supervisor at the Lynnfield, Mass. Post Office. Between August 2014 and March 2016, he actively sought out and purchased anabolic steroids from online vendors operating in China, Poland, Turkey, and Romania. The operation wasn’t a simple case of personal use. Psehoyas attempted to mask his activities by having the illegal shipments addressed to multiple recipients at diverse locations, a clear attempt to evade law enforcement scrutiny.

What’s particularly damning is how Psehoyas exploited his position within the USPS. Utilizing the agency’s own tracking system, he monitored the incoming parcels, then intercepted them before they could raise red flags. This wasn’t a passive receipt of contraband; it was an active, calculated effort to abuse his authority and facilitate illegal activity. The USPS Office of Inspector General flagged the suspicious activity, triggering a full investigation.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb didn’t mince words, stating that Psehoyas’ actions violated the public trust and undermined the integrity of the Postal Service. Eileen Neff, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office, echoed those sentiments, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to rooting out corruption from within its ranks. The case was prosecuted by Eugenia M. Carris of Weinreb’s Public Corruption Unit, a team dedicated to tackling abuses of power.

Psehoyas’ sentence sends a clear message: even those entrusted with upholding the law are not above it. While six months may seem lenient to some, the accompanying supervised release and community service requirements demonstrate a commitment to rehabilitation and accountability. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments in the fight against drug trafficking and public corruption within federal agencies.