Miami

Gym in Downtown Miami Raided By Authorities, Owner Facing Steroid Charges

Authorities raided a gym near downtown Miami Wednesday morning as the gym's co-owner is expected to face steroid charges, officials said.

DEA Agents and U.S. Marshals participated in the raid at Iron Addicts Gym Miami at 31 Northeast 17th Street. City of Miami police were also at the scene.

"All these militant individuals with DEA on it and brandishing their guns, they kind of herded us all up to the wall and said they had to do something," gym-goer Ernesto Aragon said.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York, the gym's part owner, Richard Rodriguez, as well as nine others, are accused of distributing anabolic steroids through Rodriguez's Miami-based company, Wellness, Fitness & Nutrition Network LLP.

The complaint said a confidential source, a former employee, told the DEA in August 2015 that the company was marketing and selling anabolic steroids over the Internet.

According to the complaint, raw steroid powder was purchased from China and shipped to Miami, where it was sent to Arizona to be processed. Bottles of steroids were then shipped back to Miami, the complaint said.

Authorities said seven of the defendants would be arraigned in federal court in Miami and two would be arraigned in Phoenix. The tenth suspect is still being sought in the Phoenix area.

After Wednesday's raid, the gym was shut down and all the equipment was seized.

"I could cry, my heart's broken. Honestly I was looking forward to training here," customer Connie Hauk said.

Check back with NBC 6 for updates.

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