It was in 2007 where a Florida compounding pharmacy was raided by a multi-task force for allegedly prescribing HGH to professional athletes, bodybuilders, celebrities and other clients. The owners and operators of the Signature Compounding Pharmacy were charged in the Albany County Court but were later dismissed. The respondents and pharmacist-owners Stanley and Naomi Loomis filed their own charges against the federal agents and Albany prosecutors in a federal court in Orlando. They argued that the raiding team violated their civil rights. The owners also laments that their business was destroyed because of malicious prosecution and wrongful arrests.

The series of raids against pharmacies involved in the distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and other banned substances were part of the government’s action against illegal importation and distribution. The Operation Raw Deal which is composed of different federal agencies is an example of the government’s effort to curtail illegal activities involving regulated drugs. Several store owners and inviduals were already charged in court in this multi-state campaign. The authorities were alarmed on the volume of HGH imported from other countries particularly China. Anabolic steroids and HGH were commonly imported in raw form and then processed locally by underground laboratories. It is sold in the market through pharmacies and health supplement stores without FDA’s approval. Clients are also inclined to purchase HGH and steroids online from these distributors which may cause health risks to the users.

The Albany County district attorney filed an appeal in an effort to prove the involvement of Signature Compounding Pharmacy in a wider network of illegal importation and distribution of HGH. According to state attorneys, the pharmacy was linked to another HGH case in Rhode Island. They are hoping that the appellate court will reinstate the criminal charges against the pharmacy owners which were dismissed by Judge Stephen W. Herrick in 2008. In the report of the Times Union, Stanley Loomis invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to answer questions during a deposition by defense attorneys which included Loomis’ dealings with Victor Martin Effron.

Effron was involved in the smuggling and distribution of human growth hormone. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate the sale of smuggled goods, smuggling, distribution of human growth hormone and money laundering. Based on the court records acquired by the Times Union, Signature Compounding Pharmacy was referred to as Pharmacy X who contracted Victor Effron to facilitate the importation of HGH from China. “Pharmacy X was a licensed pharmacy located in Orlando, Florida. Pharmacy X contracted Effron to facilitate the smuggling of HGH from GPC in China to Florida,” as stated in the court records. It was between 2004 and 2007 when Effron acted in behalf of Pharmacy X to illegally import more than $690,000 worth of HGH from China. The owner of the GeneScience Pharmaceutical Co. of Hongkong who supplied the HGH, was also indicted for felony charges but the case is still pending.

Court records also showed how Pharmacy X and Effron took steps to conceal the origin of the HGH that was being imported from China. The prosecutors argued that the two knew that HGH manufactured by GPC was not an approved drug, that it was on the FDA seizure list, and Effron was not a licensed wholesale drug distributor.

Some of the prominent people who allegedly bought from the pharmacy include Mary J. Blige and former New England Patriots Rodney Harrison. Blige denied purchasing HGH from the said pharmacy but the latter admitted receiving the drug. Human growth hormones are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It can only be used with a doctor’s prescription. Its use is becoming popular because of its anti-aging effects and is believed to rejuvenate muscles.

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