Trent Matthew Young, owner of Aussie Apex online steroid business, pleads for mercy in illegal drugs, importation case
A court has pulled back the veil on a lucrative black market business – and how it all arose from brotherly shame over a debt.
He represented himself online as a good “brother” and “legit Aussie domestic source” of all the basic performance-enhancers a steroid user could need.
Trent Matthew Young was gifted the name “Aussie Apex” from its originator – who moved overseas, never to return – and made $150,000 over 18 months.
Much of that came from the 5.2kg of pure steroid substances, and 120 vials of Human Growth Hormone, he illegally imported into Australia.
All the while he lied to his wife – a teacher at a prestigious northeastern suburbs private school – and family about his new income, pretending he was doing “odd jobs”.
Young’s time at the apex ended when he was busted by Australian Border Force and, on Wednesday, he asked the District Court to show mercy in sentencing.
His counsel dubbed Young’s crimes “an 18-month blip in a pro-social life”, sparked by the guilt and shame he felt over incurring hefty debts for his own brother.
“The linchpin moment for Young was the failure of his side of the business he shared with his brother (which) put his brother’s livelihood in very real jeopardy,” he said.
“He sold his family home to repay that debt but that didn’t nearly cover it and, despite the fact his brother didn’t and still doesn’t hold any ill will, he felt a very great sense of shame.
“There was almost a sense of relief when he was caught – that he didn’t have to live a lie anymore, that he could face his demons, his past issues, and get the support he really needs.”
Young, 37, of Redwood Park, pleaded guilty to three counts of intentionally importing prohibited goods being reckless to the fact the importation was prohibited.
Between December 19, 2023 and March 8, 2024, he received multiple packages addressed to names other than his own.
Two months later, Australian Border Force officers raided his home and found pill presses, glassware and steroid vials in his garage.
They seized 7.5kg of powders labelled as hormones and steroids, 21 boxes of prescription medication and 500 clenbuterol hydrochloride tablets.
They also seized a large quantity of domestic mail packaging material, six mobile phones and seven credit cards in various names.
Finally, they seized packaging labels for performance and image-enhancing drugs – or PIEDS – suggesting the substances were being produced at Young’s property.
On Wednesday, Young’s counsel conceded jail was the only appropriate penalty for his client’s offending, but argued he deserved a suspended or home detention sentence.
Young had, he said, secured a stable job as site manager for a $2.5 million construction project with employers willing to keep him on while serving home detention.
He said Young had “come clean” to his wife, developed insight into and apologised for his offending, and was committed to ongoing psychological counselling.
“Your Honour has evidence of substantial rehabilitation in a short period of time, rather than just a promise to reform in the future,” he said.
“This is a man who has, in a very short space of time, turned his life around.”
Judge Lisa Dunlop will sentence Young at a later date.
