Memphis, TN – Joseph De Melo, Sr., a 59-year-old businessman from New Orleans, LA, was sentenced Friday to 15 months in federal prison for illicitly distributing anabolic steroids and intentionally misbranding a dietary supplement that secretly contained erectile dysfunction drugs.
De Melo owned Rezultz Distribution LLC, a supplement retail store located in Carrollton, Texas. according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he used the establishment to sell purported dietary supplements throughout the United States, including the West Tennessee.
Louisiana businessman Joseph De Melo pleaded guilty in federal court in Memphis to one count of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of misbranding a purported dietary supplement.
According to a news release from the Department of Justice, De Melo owned Rezultz Distribution LLC in Texas, which sold purported dietary supplements in West Tennessee and throughout the United States in 2012 and 2013.
In September 2012, De Mello began conspiring with individuals to distribute pills of products containing anabolic steroids, which are Schedule III controlled substances. By the time De Mello’s illegal endeavors ended in September 2013, approximately 40,000 pills had been distributed nationwide, said Edward Stanton III, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
According to the release De Melo also distributed a purported dietary supplement called “Vertical,” which contained unlisted erectile dysfunction drugs; false and misleading ingredients were listed on the drug’s labeling.
De Melo managed to obtain over $650,000 in proceeds from his scheme, which he deposited into various financial accounts, according to the release. In addition to his sentence, De Melo has agreed to forfeit the proceeds made from his illicit pill distribution.
