PJ Braun sentenced to jail… Guy Cisternino Jr. takes over Blackstone Labs.
Blackstone Labs President, PJ Braun handed over the daily duties of running Blackstone Labs to his longtime friend, Guy Cisternino Jr.
On Thursday, 17 February, 2022, Blackstone Labs President PJ Braun was sentenced to 54 months in jail for conspiring to sell illegal anabolic steroids and other products marketed as dietary supplements that were unlawful under federal law.
PJ’s former partner, Aaron Singerman, was also sentenced to 54 months in jail, just a few weeks earlier.
Read More: Aaron Singerman sentenced to 4.5 years in jail… forfeits $2.9 million.
PJ Braun also had to forfeit $3 million and the court also ordered Blackstone Labs to pay $1.2 million in forfeiture.
A normal company would be destroyed after such turmoil, but PJ Braun vowed to keep his company afloat and he picked his best friend of 22 years to run the company.
Guy Cisternino and PJ Braun have been very close friends for over 22 years. Not only is PJ Braun Guy Cisternino’s good friend, but Guy Cisternino is also sponsored by Blackstone Labs.
PJ Braun and Guy Cisternino published a video on Instagram, a day before PJ had to face the judges in court and learn his jail sentence.
In the video, PJ made his last speech as President of Blackstone Labs and at the same time, he made it official that Guy Cisternino will be temporarily replacing him to run Blackstone Labs.
Guy Cisternino said that he will make sure Blackstone Labs continues to produce the best products, and continue to grow as a company.
Cisternino has been in the bodybuilding and fitness industry his entire life. PJ could not have picked a better person to replace him as Cisternino puts all his energy into his work.
Fans and followers of Guy Cisternino know how dedicated he is to Blackstone Labs with all the promotion he does on his social media.
Just recently retiring from competitive bodybuilding, Guy Cisternino can now focus on his duties at Blackstone Labs for at least next 54 months.
Evolutionofbodybuilding.net wish the best of luck to both PJ Braun and Guy Cisternino. Both will face numerous challenges in the nest few years, but we believe they will both finish on top.
Official Press Release
Blackstone Labs Founder Sentenced for Conspiracy to Sell Anabolic Steroids and Unlawful Dietary Supplements
A Florida man who co-founded a sports and dietary supplements retailer was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for conspiring to sell illegal anabolic steroids and other products marketed as dietary supplements that were unlawful under federal law. A second Florida man was sentenced to 13 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
According to court documents, Phillip Braun, 41, of Boca Raton, founded and operated Blackstone Labs LLC, a Boca Raton-based sports and dietary supplements retailer. Braun, who pleaded guilty in November 2021 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and to selling unapproved new drugs, is also the CEO of Blackstone. U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas of the Southern District of Florida sentenced Braun to 54 months in prison and ordered him to forfeit $3 million. The court also ordered Blackstone Labs to pay $1.2 million in forfeiture.
Anthony Ventrella, 43, of Delray Beach, Florida, operated a series of companies that manufactured many of the illegal products marketed and sold by Blackstone. Ventrella, who pleaded guilty in September 2021 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as part of the scheme, was sentenced to 13 months in prison. The court also ordered Ventrella’s company, Ventech Labs, to forfeit equipment used to make the illegal products.
“Selling controlled substances and unapproved drugs falsely labelled as dietary supplements is illegal and potentially dangerous,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will work with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies who disregard public safety to make a profit.”
“Drug products that are disguised as supplements can pose a serious risk to the health of U.S. consumers,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder of the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI) Miami Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who jeopardize public health.”
On Jan. 27, Aaron Singerman, who co-founded and operated Blackstone Labs with Braun, was sentenced to 54 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $2.9 million.
In total, eight individuals and three companies were convicted in connection with the activities of Blackstone Labs. James Boccuzzi, who was convicted by a jury on Dec. 9, 2021 of one count of conspiracy to defraud the FDA and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11.
FDA OCI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Alistair Reader and Stephen Gripkey, Senior Litigation Counsel David A. Frank and Assistant Director John W. Burke of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the cases with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Laura Akowuah, Brian Furlong and Sarah Hawkins from the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel provided assistance with the investigation and prosecution.
