The US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas has filed charges against Chuen Fat Yip, who they describe as “one of the world’s largest alleged anabolic steroid producers.”
The Department of Justice announced on December 14, that 68-year-old Yip, a citizen of The People’s Republic of China, has been charged with five alleged crimes involving drugs.
The charges include “conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl precursor, conspiracy to import anabolic steroids, and manufacturing anabolic steroids and fentanyl precursor with the knowledge that they will be unlawfully imported.” These charges were originally made in September of 2018.
According to CBS DFW and the Department of Justice, a crypto wallet transaction that contained around $2.3 million worth of bitcoin was traced to Yip when the US Attorney’s Office “obtained a seizure warrant” on November 18.
Chad Meacham, US Attorney, stated that Yip allegedly made millions off customers in America. “The Justice Department will pursue drug defendants to the furthest reaches of the globe if that’s what it takes to stem the tide of the drug epidemic,” Meacham said.
Court documents state they believe Yip lives in Wuhan City, China, and allegedly owns a “chemical manufacturing company” called Yuancheng Group (YC), where the anabolic steroids are being made. Over the last five years, anabolic steroids worth $55 million were illegally imported to the United States.
Eduardo A. Chavez, DEA’s Special Agent, stated, “Transnational criminal organizations seek to threaten our health and safety by importing dangerous drugs and chemicals, such as fentanyl… the YC Group allegedly utilized global logistics for personal gain while profiting from those individuals vulnerable to the dangers of drug abuse. Mr. Yip’s alleged criminal activities have caught up with him, and DEA Fort Worth will use every tool, every law enforcement partner, and every community resource to ensure he and his conspirators are held accountable.”
Yip also allegedly agreed to ship a precursor for fentanyl, 4-ANPP, to the US to be taken to Mexico. According to the Justice Department’s press release, the precursor would be combined with additional chemicals to create fentanyl, then smuggled back into the United States.
DEA’s Dallas Field Division and the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas have led the investigation in the case against Chuen Fat Yip.
The US Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for “information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Yip or information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Yip’s transnational organized crime group, the Yuancheng Group.”
Contact the local DEA’s office to provide them with any information or send an email to [email protected].