A man who allegedly created and maintained a steroid distribution center in Spring Valley was arrested Tuesday, according to an unsealed U.S. Attorney’s Office Complaint.
Edgar Lopez Feliciano, 50, allegedly purchased anabolic steroid powder from China and Turkey, then used them to create and manufacture anabolic steroids for distribution throughout the United States through the U.S. Mail system.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, law enforcement officials estimate that Feliciano distributed more than 10,000 parcels containing anabolic steroids between June and August 2022 and until his arrest continued to distribute anabolic steroids from the distribution center in Spring Valley daily.
Federal agents identified multiple financial accounts held by Feliciano between 2018 and 2021 with the total amount of deposits into the accounts being approximately $7 million, and more than $2.5 million in wire transfers sent from these accounts to overseas entities.
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said his office will work closely with federal and local partners “to prosecute those who traffic in controlled substances using the U.S. mail system”.
Federal prosecutors said during a coordinated takedown, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies arrested Feliciano and executed search warrants at the steroid distribution center in Spring Valley and his residence in Poway.
Agents seized a large number of anabolic steroids estimated to be hundreds of thousands of individual dosage units.
They also seized more than $25,000 in U.S. currency, six Rolex watches and other luxury jewelry, and multiple high-end luxury vehicles, including a 2023 Mercedes Maybach S580 and a 2023 Mercedes AMG G63.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Feliciano could face the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
