Chinese raw powder guy busted
A 32-year-old Chinese man has been indicted on numerous counts for smuggling anabolic steroids from different parts of the world to the U.S. in mail packages.

Yi Yu, who also went by Mr. Liu, was indicted on 11 counts of trafficking testosterone propionate, testosterone cypionate and testosterone enanthate, all illegal anabolic steroids, into the U.S.

Yu, a citizen of Wuhan, China, faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated in part by agents from Homeland Security Investigations.

Investigators in New York City intercepted two kilograms of liquid gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) sent from China in May 2014. The material was sent to a confidential informant in Boulder.

The informant was routinely receiving packages from China containing steroids. He had three Chinese suppliers including a company called Powerlife Nutrition Limited.

The informant, who is not named in Yu's indictment, was charged with felony counts in state court, according to court records.

The informant than implicated partners in the smuggling operation including Yu, records indicate. Yu had a Hong Kong address.

Meetings were set up in Las Vegas and Toronto in January and February between Yu and the informant. Under supervision of federal agents, the informant bought three kilograms of steroids from Yu, records indicate.

In e-mail exchanges, the confidential informant said it would be safer to import the steroids in powder versus oils.

"I think customs will pass it through easier," the informant wrote Yu in a Feb. 24 e-mail.

The powder was sent in packages from Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, containing Ramen noodles and chili peppers and pills called "Tianranjijing." The pills contained steroids.

Records indicated that Yu received nearly $500,000 in payments for products between 2012 and 2015, records indicate.