Turlock Attorney Sentenced For Importing Steroids
FRESNO, Calif. - Erik Harald Moje, 40, a California-licensed attorney and resident of Turlock, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to nine months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release for importing raw anabolic steroids from China, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin announced.
Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone. They are regulated under the Controlled Substances (CSA) as a Schedule III controlled substance and may not be possessed lawfully in the United States without a prescription. Importing anabolic steroids by a person who is not a Drug Enforcement Administration registrant, such as a physician or a pharmacy, is unlawful and a violation of the CSA.
On February 6, 2017, Moje pleaded guilty to unlawfully importing anabolic steroids. According to court documents, between December 1, 2013, and September 1, 2015, Moje, a licensed attorney and professional bodybuilder, unlawfully purchased and obtained anabolic steroids from a supplier in China. Encrypted emails and documented shipments indicated that the purchase money would be deposited into the bank account for the Law Office of Eric Moje. He routed shipments of steroids through a mail-forwarding service in New York, as well as private citizens in other parts of the country.
In May 2015, agents intercepted a parcel containing one kilogram of steroids, which equates to 40,000 dosage units. In September 2015, agents executed a search warrant at Moje’s residence. Behind a false wall in the garage, they found 538 10‑milliliter vials containing liquid anabolic steroids, which equates to 10,760 dosage units, and 17,700 steroid capsules.
In sentencing Moje, Judge Drozd ordered the forfeiture of Moje’s residence. Also forfeited were: $29,925 in cash found during the search of the residence, a 2011 BMW 750Li, and 11 firearms.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’(ICE) Homeland Security (HSI), Modesto Police Department and Turlock Police Department. The case was also part of Operation Cyber Juice, a nationwide initiative targeting domestic and international steroid trafficking organizations. Assistant United States Attorney Karen A. Escobar prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Khasigian handled the asset forfeiture proceedings.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF). The OCDETF program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
