MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas and United States Postal Inspectors announced that a Yaphank man was arrested yesterday by NCDA investigators as part of Operation Jerome for allegedly selling anabolic steroids on the dark web.
Christopher Camacho, 43, was arraigned today before Judge Karen Moroney on five counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (a D felony) and five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (a D felony). The defendant was released to pre-trial services and is due back in court on December 23.
If convicted of the top charge, the defendant faces a potential maximum of two-and-a-half years in prison if convicted of all the counts.
“This high-tech operation stopped the alleged trafficking of illicit steroids through the dark web, tracing hard-to-track cryptocurrency back to this defendant,” DA Singas said. “We named this bust ‘Operation Jerome’ to honor NCDA Investigator Jason Jerome, who passed away unexpectedly in May. Investigator Jerome initiated this investigation, and we remember him as an extraordinary colleague who cared deeply for victims and worked late into the night to recoup their stolen money using his sophisticated computer skills. We miss his smile, tenacity, enthusiasm, friendliness and sense of humor.”
“Criminals think they can hide their illegal activities by using the dark web; but when you use the U.S. Mail to facilitate the transport of illegal and dangerous substances, Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue you, arrest you and bring you to justice for your crimes, ensuring the safety of the mail, our employees and customers,” said Assistant Inspector in Charge Edward Gallashaw.
DA Singas said that the defendant allegedly used the dark web to sell a quantity of trenbolone enanthate, an anabolic steroid and Schedule II Controlled Substance, to undercover law enforcement in exchange for Bitcoin currency. The defendant is alleged to have used the United States Postal Service to mail the steroids. Trenbolene enanthate can be used by athletes and bodybuilders.
Since January 1, 2020, based on label profiling, sender name and address, consistent with how the defendant sends packages, the defendant has allegedly sent more than 1,700 packages across the country. The defendant allegedly received the steroids from China and California.
NCDA Detective Investigators seized more than $86,000, vials of drugs with an estimated street value of more than $1,000,000, and eight guns when executing a search warrant on the defendant’s home yesterday.
The defendant was arrested as part of “Operation Jerome,” named in honor of NCDA Detective Investigator Jason Jerome, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 44 in May 2020. Jerome, who started the investigation, joined the NCDA in 2010 and was a leading expert in the investigations of financial crimes, tax crimes and identity theft. He was also an expert in dark web and cryptocurrencies and led several investigations that disrupted the supply of heroin and fentanyl on Long Island.
The NCDA thanks the United States Postal Inspectors, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the New York Police Department for their assistance in this case.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are likely.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michelle Kantor of DA Singas’ Major Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by Legal Aid.
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