Woman Charged In Beverly Tanning Salon Money Laundering Conspiracy

BOSTON, MA – Another conspirator has been charged in a scheme to traffic steroids and launder money under the guise of a Beverly tanning salon.

Melissa Sclafani, 29, of Gloucester, was charged with conspiracy to distribute counterfeit steroids and conspiracy to launder money on Thursday. In April, Sclafani and five others were charged by criminal complaint.

Wicked Tan LLC, which to appears to have changed ownership since the criminal complaint, was used to launder proceeds from the sale of counterfeit steroids, according to a statement from the Department of Justice. Sclafani allegedly served as the corporate secretary of the tanning salon.

According to the charging documents, from approximately February 2016 until April 12, 2017, Sclafani conspired with others to manufacture steroid products, market them as "Onyx" steroids, and sell them to customers across the United States using email and social media. Customers paid for the steroids with money remitters, such as Western Union and MoneyGram, and members of the conspiracy used false identifications and multiple remitter locations to pick up the steroid proceeds.

The conspirators allegedly bought the materials to manufacture the steroids, as well as Onyx labeling and packaging from overseas suppliers. Onyx is a legitimate pharmaceutical company owned by Amgen Inc. that doesn't manufacture steroids, according to the complaint.

The conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss of the conspiracy, and the charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the gain or loss of the conspiracy. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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