Trent Matthew Young, 37, jailed after pleading guilty to importing, selling steroids to pay school fees
An Adelaide dad’s desperate attempt to pay for his kids’ schooling by importing illegal steroids has landed him behind bars.
A gym junkie who became addicted to steroids illegally imported nearly 8kg of performance-enhancing drugs to pay off his kids’ school fees, a court has heard.
Trent Matthew Young, 37, was sentenced in the District Court on Thursday after Australian Border Force officers pounced on his business Apex Anabolics and seized 7.5kg of powders labelled as hormones and steroids, 21 boxes of prescription medication, 500 clenbuterol hydrochloride tablets and PIED packaging labels.
Over an 18-month period, Young profited more than $150,000 – money which, the court heard, was used to “provide income for the family” after his failed business venture forced his wife to return to work.
Judge Lisa Dunlop said Young, of Redwood Park, hid the offending from his wife and even “expressed relief” upon his arrest.
“You were very aware of the wrongfulness of your actions, however, at the time, you were in a desperate state and willing to engage in any activity that would help to financially support your family,” Judge Dunlop said.
“You performed the principal role in the importation of prohibited substances into this country over an extended period. You were the importer, the financier of this operation in the context of a profitable commercial business.
“I accept you were not living a lavish and extravagant lifestyle, but rather using the profits to pay for your children’s school fees and to pay off bills.”
In July, Young pleaded guilty to three counts of importing prohibited goods, two counts of attempting to import prohibited goods and one count of dealing with proceeds of crime in excess of $50,000.
The court heard he had attempted to import a further 8kg of steroids after engaging with potential “customers” on an encrypted messaging service.
A court previously heard he had imported the goods through the post between December 19, 2023 and March 8, 2024. The packages were addressed to multiple other names.
During sentencing, Judge Dunlop said it was “clear” Young had been offending for longer than what was captured in the charged offences.
Judge Dunlop sentenced Young to three years, four months and 16 days’ jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.
ABF Acting Superintendent Reilly Farrell said Young’s sentencing should serve as a strong deterrent for those seeking to illegally import prohibited substances.
“The importation of steroids and other PIEDs by criminals motivated by profit with no concern for the potentially detrimental health consequences of the end user is profoundly unacceptable,” Mr Farrell said.
“The result achieved in court should serve as a warning to those involved in the importation of prohibited goods: ABF and its law enforcement partners work collaboratively every day to identify and disrupt criminal activity.”
