Idaho man was a U.S. domestic remailer of raw steroid powder packages for Alliance Raws Pharmacy in China
Travis Newbold was found guilty of conspiracy to import anabolic steroids, importation of anabolic steroids and possession with intent to distribute anabolic steroids by a federal jury in Pocatello, Idaho on October 19, 2018. Newbold worked as a U.S. domestic remailer of steroid powder packages on behalf of Alliance Raws Pharmacy in Shenzhen, China.
Newbold’s troubles began when agents with the United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) intercepted a suspicious package at the San Francisco International Airport air mail center in October 2017.
The package was shipped from Shenzhen, China and addressed to “Travis” in Poctello, Idaho. Investigators discovered 496 grams of methandienone (Dianabol) and 989 grams of oxymetholone (Anadrol) inside the package.
Federal agents, in cooperation with the Pocatello Police Department, arranged for a controlled delivery. Newbold was sent a delivery slip notifying him that a signature was required at the Pocatello post office. Newbold responded to the delivery slip to sign and accept the package on October 25, 2017. He was promptly arrested when he started to leave the post office.
Newbold claimed he was forwarding packages as a favor to Amy — his Chinese pen pal
Investigators interrogated Newbold following his arrest. Newbold apparently waived his rights to an attorney and started talking. He admitted to previously ordering small quantities of steroids for his own personal use. But Newbold denied knowledge of the contents of the package he just picked up.
Newbold claimed he had struck up a friendship with a Chinese pen pal. The pen pal had asked him to forward a certain number of packages for her. Newbold said he agreed but had no idea what was inside the packages.
Police found a mobile phone during the execution of a search warrant of Newbold’s home. It turned out that Newbold may have been telling the truth about a Chinese pen pal. Newbold had been chatting with someone who claimed to be named “Amy” with Alliance Raws Pharmacy for several months.
Amy had asked Newbold to forward several packages as her remailer of raw steroid powder to customers in the United States. This business relationship and the illegal nature of it were discussed in great detail.
Newbold has been incarcerated since January 2018. His two requests for pretrial release were denied after prosecutors convinced the judge that he was a flight risk. However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale at least agreed to allow Newbold to visit his father on his deathbed at Portneuf Medical Center under the custodial supervision of U.S. Marshals.
Newbold is scheduled to appear for a sentencing hearing on January 10, 2018 before Chief U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to $1,000,000 in fines.