A Pasco County resident has entered a guilty plea on charges of anabolic steroid distribution and unlawful possession of a firearm, as announced by U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Mitchell Bunkowske, 32, from Land O Lakes, is now facing up to 10 years in federal prison for each offense, although a sentencing date is still pending. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice, the confession is part of a plea agreement that recounted Bunkowske's role as a distributor of controlled substances from January 2019 to June 2021.
The plea agreement details how Bunkowske operated by selling steroids, considered a Schedule III controlled substance, which he shipped to customers widely across the United States. Specifically, Bunkowske used to regularly mail out vials containing testosterone propionate and drostanolone propionate via the United States Postal Service. He also engaged middlemen who further distributed the substances to others, including members within the United States Navy. The investigation led by federal agents culminated in a raid on Bunkowske’s home in June 2021, where they uncovered a large stash of steroids in various forms.
Further digging into the situation, it was revealed that Bunkowske was not a licensed medical provider and had no legitimate means to distribute steroids. During the raid, federal agents also seized an unlawfully modified firearm: an FN Herstal PS90 rifle which had been altered to a length that requires registration under federal law. The weapon, along with 50 rounds of ammo and the shortened barrel, could result in additional penalties for Bunkowske, who has not claimed to legally register the firearm.
The investigation that led to Bunkowske's admission was a joint effort conducted by the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the Postal Inspection Service providing assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer is tasked to prosecute the case. The plea effectively cuts short what could have been a lengthy and resource-consuming trial, and showcases the resolve of federal agencies to clamp down on illegal steroid distribution and firearm possession.
