14 DAY TRIAL // MySpace, one of the most popular social network web sites today, has yet again been asked to better protect its users against all kinds of possible illegal activities that might occur on the site. The most recent event concerning this kind of illegal activities has been the commercialization of steroids through the use of a MySpace user profile. With only a cursory search on the site, a profile of a 27-year-old woman from Tempe, Ariz that was linked to an online pharmacy that sells "only genuine" steroids, has been revealed. "If you're looking for anabolic supplements, you are in the right place", the woman wrote in one of her posts. Kevin J. O'Connor, the United States attorney in Connecticut said: "Of particular concern to us is obviously the use of profiles on MySpace.com, which gives us concern that this might in fact be a way to market to minors and to children". "Some of the methods that we've uncovered in this investigation lead us to conclude that it may not just be adults that are being marketed to.", he also added.
In a recent indictment, four men are accused of purchasing raw steroid powder from China, manufacturing the drugs in their home-based laboratories and then selling the finished products through the MySpace profile and an online store they created. The four men who were indicted - Edwin F. Porter (41), Matthew J. Peltz (36) of Chandler, Ariz; Tyler J. Lunn (27) of Phoenix; and Walter T. Corey (37) of Charleroi, Pa. - face up to 15 years in prison and a $750,000 fine if convicted on the steroids charges. This case has disturbed some coaches in the Connecticut area, one of which, Tom Brockett - head coach of the top-ranked football team at Ansonia High School - said "The problem is, kids can get anything online, any day, anything they need", "The more it's thrown in their face, the easier it's going to be".
Connecticut authorities stated that they plan to seek those who bought steroids from the men who were charged - especially if they were coaches, teachers or students. Kimberly K. Mertz, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I. in Connecticut said that Operation Phony Pharm is continuing and that more arrests are expected. Unfortunately for MySpace, this isn't the first time it has had this kind of problems. The site officials are also under pressure from the Connecticut state attorneys general to increase their efforts to protect minors from possible sexual predators that might be using MySpace profiles.
"Our focus as attorneys general has been on pornography and predators, but marketing illegal drugs is equally troubling and certainly shows the need for stronger controls and verification of age and identity", said Richard Blumenthal (one of the attorneys) in a telephone interview for the New York Times. The MySpace officials have not yet made any comment on the recent steroid distribution related incident.