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Canastota man accused of buying steroids online
Police say Canastota suspect bought drugs, sold them in Oneida, Madison counties.
October 04, 2003
By Aaron Gifford
Staff writer
State police said it took Canastota resident Joseph "Ty" Tornatore only a few strokes on a keyboard to find what he was looking for: steroids.
"Anyone with half a brain and a little bit of knowledge could buy these over the Internet and start popping pills," trooper Eric Jones said.
According to police, Tornatore began his search for steroids on a bodybuilding Internet chat site. From there, he hooked up with an international dealer who imported most of the drugs from China into Canada.
When he was arrested Sept. 16, Tornatore, 27, had more than 11,000 doses of steroids, mainly in pill form.
Jones said 90 percent of the drugs Tornatore received and resold in Madison and Oneida counties are illegal in the United States.
Tornatore was charged with 22 counts of fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In addition to several different types of pills, police also seized 400 hypodermic needles, $15,000 in cash and a folding dagger.
Bodybuilders prefer steroids that are injected because they are less damaging to the kidneys and liver than the pills. But tablets are making a comeback because it's cheaper and easier to import them, especially through the Internet, Jones said.
"Asia is just mass producing these things in tablet forms in massive amounts," he said. "U.S. (Food and Drug Administration) standards? No. There were no markings on them."
Police said the dealer's Web page stressed that the drugs are not intended for human consumption, and that "the shots are painless to your cattle." Some of the drugs Tornatore had were commonly used by veterinarians to treat horse diseases.
"Yet later (the dealer) talked about taking it orally or injecting it into (human) muscles," Jones said. "He talked about how none of his shipments have ever been intercepted by authorities."
Nor was his shipment to Tornatore, whom police had investigated for three months before making an arrest. The drugs were seized at a traffic stop, at his 3168 Seneca Ave. house, and at the home of his girlfriend at 918 Mary St. in Utica.
Jones said Tornatore's profit margin was huge. The suspect paid between 3 and 5 cents each for some pills and sold them for $5 each. The street value of his supply was more than $100,000.
Tornatore is scheduled to appear in Utica City Court Nov. 19. His attorney, Frank Mellace, declined comment.
Under federal law, steroids are illegal to possess, let alone sell, without a prescription from a licensed physician. Illegal steroids are typically made overseas or in underground labs, and pose a health risk because they are not regulated by the government or labeled correctly.
In 2001, North Syracuse police arrested a Liverpool man and charged him with misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance after he had more than 500 grams of steroids and dozens of hypodermic needles delivered to a post office box in the village.
Countless Web sites can link customers to steroid sellers if they purchase a membership. Overseas Pharmacy Guide.Com, for example, says it does not sell medication from its Web site, but is a directory of U.S. and overseas pharmacies and "contains information about anabolic steroids that are in some countries illegal or at least sensitive nature."
"It is designed for advanced bodybuilders, power lifters and other athletes. Enjoy!" the site said. "Products are packaged and shipped very discretely. No prescription required to order."
And even though the site is called Overseas Pharmacy Guide and is linked to another site called Discount Canadian Pharmacies, its Web page said the drugs are shipped to customers from within the United States.
"I am just a semi-professional bodybuilder who knows what serious bodybuilders need, and who is willing to help foreign bodybuilders that have problems in getting products in their countries. All the products are bought from 'friendly pharmacies and laboratories here in Paraguay, Argentina or Brazil.' "
Jones' investigation is ongoing and more arrests may result. He said authorities are interested in pursuing the people who sold the drugs to Tornatore online, but it would be a "huge undertaking."
In 2000, 22 people were arrested in Thailand after U.S. and Thai customs agents investigated the online sale of tranquilizers and steroids
Police say Canastota suspect bought drugs, sold them in Oneida, Madison counties.
October 04, 2003
By Aaron Gifford
Staff writer
State police said it took Canastota resident Joseph "Ty" Tornatore only a few strokes on a keyboard to find what he was looking for: steroids.
"Anyone with half a brain and a little bit of knowledge could buy these over the Internet and start popping pills," trooper Eric Jones said.
According to police, Tornatore began his search for steroids on a bodybuilding Internet chat site. From there, he hooked up with an international dealer who imported most of the drugs from China into Canada.
When he was arrested Sept. 16, Tornatore, 27, had more than 11,000 doses of steroids, mainly in pill form.
Jones said 90 percent of the drugs Tornatore received and resold in Madison and Oneida counties are illegal in the United States.
Tornatore was charged with 22 counts of fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In addition to several different types of pills, police also seized 400 hypodermic needles, $15,000 in cash and a folding dagger.
Bodybuilders prefer steroids that are injected because they are less damaging to the kidneys and liver than the pills. But tablets are making a comeback because it's cheaper and easier to import them, especially through the Internet, Jones said.
"Asia is just mass producing these things in tablet forms in massive amounts," he said. "U.S. (Food and Drug Administration) standards? No. There were no markings on them."
Police said the dealer's Web page stressed that the drugs are not intended for human consumption, and that "the shots are painless to your cattle." Some of the drugs Tornatore had were commonly used by veterinarians to treat horse diseases.
"Yet later (the dealer) talked about taking it orally or injecting it into (human) muscles," Jones said. "He talked about how none of his shipments have ever been intercepted by authorities."
Nor was his shipment to Tornatore, whom police had investigated for three months before making an arrest. The drugs were seized at a traffic stop, at his 3168 Seneca Ave. house, and at the home of his girlfriend at 918 Mary St. in Utica.
Jones said Tornatore's profit margin was huge. The suspect paid between 3 and 5 cents each for some pills and sold them for $5 each. The street value of his supply was more than $100,000.
Tornatore is scheduled to appear in Utica City Court Nov. 19. His attorney, Frank Mellace, declined comment.
Under federal law, steroids are illegal to possess, let alone sell, without a prescription from a licensed physician. Illegal steroids are typically made overseas or in underground labs, and pose a health risk because they are not regulated by the government or labeled correctly.
In 2001, North Syracuse police arrested a Liverpool man and charged him with misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance after he had more than 500 grams of steroids and dozens of hypodermic needles delivered to a post office box in the village.
Countless Web sites can link customers to steroid sellers if they purchase a membership. Overseas Pharmacy Guide.Com, for example, says it does not sell medication from its Web site, but is a directory of U.S. and overseas pharmacies and "contains information about anabolic steroids that are in some countries illegal or at least sensitive nature."
"It is designed for advanced bodybuilders, power lifters and other athletes. Enjoy!" the site said. "Products are packaged and shipped very discretely. No prescription required to order."
And even though the site is called Overseas Pharmacy Guide and is linked to another site called Discount Canadian Pharmacies, its Web page said the drugs are shipped to customers from within the United States.
"I am just a semi-professional bodybuilder who knows what serious bodybuilders need, and who is willing to help foreign bodybuilders that have problems in getting products in their countries. All the products are bought from 'friendly pharmacies and laboratories here in Paraguay, Argentina or Brazil.' "
Jones' investigation is ongoing and more arrests may result. He said authorities are interested in pursuing the people who sold the drugs to Tornatore online, but it would be a "huge undertaking."
In 2000, 22 people were arrested in Thailand after U.S. and Thai customs agents investigated the online sale of tranquilizers and steroids
