Gay porn star who ran ‘largest secret steroids lab in the US’ jailed
A gay porn star has been jailed after he was found to be running what is thought to be the “largest secret steroids lab” in America.
Tyler St James, real name Joel Logan Pasternak, was found to be the ringleader of the illegal steroid production in Tennessee.
The porn star, who frequently worked with sites including Men.com and Jet Set Men was fined $2.8 million and sentenced to nine years in federal prison.
The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to “‘federal indictment charging them with conspiring to manufacture and distribute anabolic steroids”.
He worked with family and friends under the Pasternak drug organisation to import, produce and distribute steroids.
His parents, Edwards and Lori Pasternak, 59 and 52 respectively, helped their son to run the operation.
Edward, who used to be a pastor, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison while Lori was sentenced to 12 months and one day.
They also have to pay a combined fine of $100,000.
The porn star’s brothers, Joshua, 32, and Jared, 23, have to pay $10,000 each and serve four days of confinement followed by a five-year probationary period.
17 more people have pleaded guilty to offences linked to the steroid ring but still await sentencing.
The group the imported the illegal powder from China and then converted it into liquid, pill and tablet form.
It was then packaged with imagery of the Marvel superhero, the Hulk.
It was found that St James was selling the steroids online and using money transfer services such as Western Union, MoneyGram and Walmart-to Walmart Money Transfer to receive payments and offer customers a level of anonymity.
Before his arrest, he was running five separate labs across Johnson City in Tennessee.
His arrest and sentencing was announced by the Justice Department this month.
He is set for release from the Kentucky medium security correctional institution in late 2024.
